Published: August 15, 2008 02:00 pm            

Mentoring program aims to help more students in Clark County

Gilkey wants to expand program to all high schools

With one year under her belt, Christina Gilkey is already setting her five-year goal for the new freshman mentoring program she started at Jeffersonville High School.

That goal is to have a program in each high school in Clark County and a mentor for every freshman who wants one.

But first things first, she has about 80 nominations for students to be mentored this fall and only about 40 volunteers.

Gilkey, who started this program, said she is up for the challenge of recruiting and training additional mentors to help more students after seeing how successful the first year was.

“We had our challenges our first year, but we made it through,” Gilkey said, referring to various issues, such as one student who got expelled toward the beginning of the school year. “But, it ended up better than I imagined.”

That first year started off with 50 mentees. Gilkey said she decided to track information on them, such as GPAs and attendance, for each of the nine weeks. The results surpassed anything she imagined.

“From the first semester to the second semester, 25 percent of the students increased their GPAs,” Gilkey said. “I would have expected that from a tutoring program, but we don’t tutor. I was like, wow! It really makes a difference in achievement.”

Gilkey said research shows that if a child is successful during his freshman year, he is 86 percent more likely to graduate high school. She said having a caring adult in those students’ lives will help them to make that first year a good one.

Jackie Love knows the importance of mentors. She had a few very close ones during her life that she said helped her to become the person she is today. That’s one of the reasons why she volunteers with this program.

Love said her two female mentees started off shy, but ended up becoming talkative and even confided in her with school and personal issues.

“I was delighted to see that they did change and mature as young ladies,” Love said. “It also gave me a new perspective on the current generation of students.”

She said students now live more for the moment, where as when she was a student more people looked ahead to years down the road. She also said interests are different, adding that kids enjoy talking on the phone a lot and texting even more.

Cheryl Seeders, one of the mentors, echoed that same sentiment. The 1980 JHS graduate said she not only learned about the kids, but also herself.

“It taught me a lot about my own character defects,” Seeders said, adding that since she’s become a better listener. “You can’t be a parent to that mentee. They have parents. You have to do your best to guide them and make them think and get them to talk.”

Kevin Anderson, school resource officer at JHS and mentor, said not being the parent helps some kids to open up.

“A lot of times, with the ages we have here, it’s harder to talk to their parents than a complete stranger,” Anderson said. “Once they understood that the mentors really cared, it gained their trust. I think they open up to you more than you ever think they would.”

The 1990 JHS graduate said this is a type of program that would have helped him when he was that age.

Participants only are involved for the first year of high school. Once they go on as sophomores, the mentors then get new mentees, who are recommended by the middle school teachers.

Cory Brown is one of those who participated during his freshman year.

“It was nice, because my mentor played basketball and it was somebody that I could relate to,” the now JHS sophomore said. “It was fun and it was just basically a good experience.”

Brown said he does recommend other students take advantage of the program.

“It’s a good opportunity to try new things and meet adults who can help you in your life,” he said.

Gilkey said this program has helped show her why she is here. She said starting this is a way to pay it forward, since her grandparents took her in at 13 years old to raise her after having a hard childhood.

“I can relate to what a lot of these kids are going through and what they’re dealing with,” Gilkey said. “My grandparents really impacted my life and I want to help other children in that same type of situation and show them that regardless of where you come from, you can be successful.”

She said she wants to make sure students know they can achieve anything and that they have a caring adult in their life that will help make their dreams a reality.

“I know my purpose,” Gilkey said. “It’s a great feeling.”

        

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