April 21

This week I had a good time with my mentee.  I had not been able to see her for 2 weeks, and I found that I actually missed her.  Each time I am there we work on reading, this week I happen to see a book there that I had read when I was her age.  I think the book is Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Clearly.  We took turn s reading the book and we had a really great time.  We were cracking up, because the kid writing the letters to Mr. Henshaw is really sarcasti and funny.  Anyway, we had a good time reading and laughing.  I was really excited when she asked if I was here for a couple more weeks so we could finish the book together.  What was cool was it seemed like we finally clicked! 

Something that has been bothering me for a few weeks is the way people refer to my mentee.  Before I had even met her, the leaders and other mentors warned me of her attitude and how out of control she can be.  I have yet to see this girl they warned me about.  The girl I mentor is great and funny.  There are times that she gets a little agitated, but from what I have seen, it is when she feels that the leaders are being unjust.  To be honest, I do not blame her, sometimes I am just as annoyed with the leaders as she gets.  Often I can curb her, and so she won't speak out.  Thei where I get to the part that annoys me.  Every kid in the class, and each leader I meet expects her to have an attitude.  Its like because they expect trouble she gives it, or because they expect it that is all they see.  It makes me sad, and defensive of her.  I do see that, what I see is a classroom full of kids who act out, kids with tons of attitude.  What I see is my mentee not being allowed to change.  I want to find a way to chage this perception.  In my family there is a story of my uncle, who, when he was young, would get into trouble.  He would pull all the food off the shelves, could climb up anything and get into anything.  He would hide and watch his family frantically look for him.  Because of this, his parents and family would tell his stories to others.  They called him "John John the Adam Bomb," and thus they created what they did not want.  My Grandma, when she figured out what they were doing, decided to stop.  She and my Grandpa began talking about John in positive ways, telling good stories about him, stopped calling hims "John John the Adam Bomb" and by doing this helped change the kid John had become.  It is the same story with mentee.  If I can show that I expect a great kid, with great attitude, and do so in a postive mannar, then maybe I can help shape her.  But, I need the leaders to got on board with me, meaning I think I need to talk with them.  I, and the leaders, need to be the change we want to see in my mentee.

I hope it will work, I'll keep you guys updated :)