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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-04-27, Page 11Times -Advocate, April 27, 1994 Page 11 Peer mentoring helping teens through the difficulties of growing up By Amy Neilands Special to the T -A EXETER - High school can be a difficult transition for young ad- olescents. Some often feel frustrat- ed and isolated, but there is some- one there who will listen and care. The Peer Mentoring program at South Huron District High School is in its third year of helping grades 7, 8, and 9 students through this transition. Peer Mentoring evolved from the START Program, a stay in school enrichment program. Peer mentors are chosen from grade 10 or 11 stu- dents and are paired up with a stu- dent in grades 7, 8, or 9. Ele- mentary school teachers choose a student who they think may need a little extra help or support and pair them with a mentor from the high school. Some of the mentors are also trained to deal with people who have been sexually assaulted. "It's y,pputh serving youth," said Val t hhlson Jansen, START Pro- gram co-ordinator who has a back- ground in social work. "They'd sooner talk to their peers." "We're here to listen to their problems," said Michelle Du- charme, student coordinator of peer mentoring. "We don't give advice, we let them talk and search for the answers themselves." Ducharme, a grade 12 student, has been a peer mentor since the program began. The mentors have been through the pressures of trying to fit in both ac- ademically and socially so they know what the mentees are going through and can help them by their experiences, said Millson Jansen. At South Huron there are about 35 mentors and about two-thirds of them are paired up. Peer Mentors are chosen by the educators in the school and are recommended to Millson Jansen who has them fill out a sheet and interviews them. This year she interviewed 55 stu- dents for 10 peer mentoring posi- tions at South Huron. The program has received a lot of support from the school and from community agencies, she said. 4' Betty Jenke is the staff contact for the program. "It is a self- sufficient organized group," the South Huron guidance counsellor said. She helps coordinate the pro- gram in the school. Peer Mentoring is active in all five Huron County high schools. Mill - son Jansen is the board office co- ' ordinator of the program. "For the first year they watch the other mentors." Then they expand out into the school. Ducharme had to formally end her partnership in her first year as a mentor. "I was too committed to other things. I was trying to find my pri- orities and later realized that peer mentoring was one." Peer Mentoring was related to what she wants to do once she fin- ishes high school. "I want to go into social work." When the mentor is paired up they get together with their mentee once or twice a month, depending on their individual schedules. Group activities have also been organized such as toboganning, pot -luck din- ners, games, and they are sched- uling a self-defense course for the near future. The program focuses on "how we can make them feel more comfort- able?" and on the needs and feel- ings of the young adolescents. "It provides a sense of com- munity in the school," said Million Jansen. The Peer Mentoring program has proved successful for both mentors and mentees. 1t has broken down the barrier between grade 9 stu- dents and senior students. "There's no difference between us," said Ducharme. "We're all coming together." "I have a helpful friend," said Matt Wurm of his mentor Teresa Petch, a grade 12 student. Wurm became Petch's partner when he was in grade 8, when the program began. It also made start- ing high school much easier for the grade 10 student. "1 knew more people." About hanging out with younger students Petch said, "Their fun, 1 like being around them." The pair get together outside of the program as well. "We go to parties together," said Petch. "My friends love him. When we go out they ask 'h Matt com- ing7" The mentoring program is more than just helping the mentee. It's a partnership where they share each others problems. "We're here for each other," said Petch. The hardest part of being paired up is developing the relationship. "Matt was quiet at first," said Petch. "It takes time." "Building trust is the important thing," said Jeff Bowen, a grade 12 mentor. His partner is a grade 8 stu- dent' who meets with Bowen a couple times a month. In the be- ginning they worked at earning that trust. Mentors can also help academ- ically. Bowen's partner was doing a science fair project and asked for his help. They worked on it for a couple of days and in the end he re- ceived an honorable mention. "Being a mentor takes a lot of commitment and patience," said Bowen. "But if something goes right, you're flying for a week af- terwards." 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