Every Monday

Last year in October, I started going through these training sessions to start mentoring a 7th grade girl. When I finally finished, I met with her one time and really liked her, so I would start meeting with her after school every Monday from 4:30-5:30. However, on the second Monday I had a meeting at work (work always comes first.) I called my group leader and said that I wouldn't be able to make the commitment anymore due to sometimes having work related issues. A couple days later I received a call from the President of the company (who I know, that's how I became involved) saying that I was disappointing Yasse (that's her name) and I am just what this girl needs.

Long story short, I decided to stick with it. I met with her yesterday after all the kids came back from the holiday break and she was so excited to see me, as was I to see her :) You have to understand, I mentor at a Middle School in Saint Louis where the kids don't have the best home life, etc. Yasse is from Africa and lives at home with her Aunt and father, whom I met yesterday when they stopped by the school. Her Aunt speaks 'okay' English, and her father speaks hardly any at all. Yasse's Aunt is just so excited that I am going to be working with her. I am really glad I decided to move forward with this. I told her Aunt that she can call anytime, and I am always available to bring Yasse home on Mondays.

When her Aunt stopped by yesterday I wanted to talk to her about goals Yasse can set for herself. It's kind of hard for her to set goals at school because this girl makes straight A's!!! At home, her Aunt says that she is a blessing to have around the house, and she is always helping out. I told her I have to brush up my chess skills because I'll have to challenge her soon, chess...another thing she is really good at :) She's really excited I work at the club, I told her she can come play anytime.

The point of this is that it really shows how different others have it, and how different other cultures are. Yasse is such a neat girl, who likes a lot of the same things I do. I'm really excited to continue working with her.