We love our mentors because they do so much for our students, and we know that the biggest impacts can be brought about by the smallest actions, like being consistently present for a student. Consistency, Bob Hegeman says, is the big thing to keep in mind when considering becoming a mentor, and consistency is something Bob exemplifies as a mentor at Seven Hills Elementary School.
Bob first began volunteering with Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) in 2015. His church, Lifepoint Fellowship in Haslet, provides food to students at Seven Hills ES through a snack program and from there Bob learned about CIS, but he has been mentoring for much longer than that. Being a positive role model for children is something of a lifelong passion of Bob’s. Over twenty years ago he began mentoring as a youth sponsor with his wife Evelyn at their church in Kansas. After moving to Texas, he mentored with the Boys and Girls Club in Fort Worth while he worked at BNSF.
Bob has been matched with four CISNT students since 2015, following them when possible, on to middle and high school. Bob knows first hand that not all mentor matches work out. Sometimes students move away. Sometimes, they decide mentoring isn’t for them. Bob says when that happens you can second guess yourself, wondering what you could have done differently, but he also says there is nothing more special than seeing a child open up throughout the year and seeing them improve. Nothing can compare to being a part of that. He also knows that his presence in a student’s life can have a large impact when they grow up, even if he only meets with them for a short time, that the knowledge that they have a person in their corner can make all the difference.
Bob’s current mentee is Alan, a first grader who likes math, so when they meet they work on addition problems Bob puts together for him. They met this year but with their consistent weekly meetings, Alan and Bob have been developing a solid relationship. “He is opening up more all the time,” Bob says. “I gave him a candybar today, and as he was leaving he said he was going to give it to his teacher. That is pretty special.” Bob approaches his meetings with Alan with quiet patience, allowing Alan to direct their conversation.
“Bob’s face lights up when he talks about Alan,” says Katie McInnis, CISNT Volunteer Coordinator, “He cares so much about all the students he’s mentored, and he’s always incredibly dedicated to them, showing up each week to meet with them and taking the time to really get to know them. We’re so lucky to have him.”
If you’d like to learn more about mentoring, join us for our second annual Mentoring Summit, Friday, January 12th at 9AM. That’s just a week from today! You can RSVP for it here, or consider signing up to become a mentor yourself by applying here.
