There is no better resource we can provide for our students than the unconditional support of a caring adult. This is what makes being a mentor so incredibly impactful, and while it’s always amazing when our mentors are able to follow their mentees through high school and beyond, providing a safe place and setting a positive example for a child for just a year or two still makes a difference that can last a lifetime. James Karg, CISNT mentor at Bridgeport Intermediate, has done this for several students since he began mentoring in 2017.
James says that when he heard about CISNT he felt a calling to volunteer. “The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be a positive influence on a child’s life. I know in this day and age a lot of kids lack a positive male role model in their life. I hope to fill that need at least a little.” At Bridgeport Intermediate, James has filled that need more than a little!
CISNT Site Coordinator at Bridgeport Intermediate, Angela Calloway, says “Mr. James is a great mentor for Bridgeport Intermediate School. We are lucky to have him. His present and past students really enjoy spending time with him and doing activities.” Even students who are not meeting with James love seeing him on campus. Angela says James always comes in with a smile on his face and makes a point to say good morning to everyone he passes.
When mentoring, James gives his mentees his full attention and works hard to make the student he’s with feel comfortable and to build trust with them. James’ approach depends wholly on his current mentee. He knows no two children are the same, so the activities he does when volunteering have varied a lot over the years, but whether it’s drawing or playing frisbee, his focus is on getting to know his mentee and making them feel heard. As their relationship progresses, James will assist with homework, talk to his mentee about their school and home life, and discuss any problems or challenges the student brings up.
James says mentoring has been a learning experience for him. “At home,” he says, “I’m dad and have developed a definite influence with my kids. I’ve had to relearn how to get a kid’s attention without being “dad.” I’ve enjoyed the challenge and still feel I have much to learn.”
When asked if he has any advice for anyone considering volunteering, James says, “You will not regret it. Building a relationship with a child is hard work but very worth it. You will get to see them improve in many aspects of their life and know you had a small part to play in it.” If you would like to become a mentor or know someone who might be interested, you can learn more and apply to volunteer here: https://cisnt.org/volunteer/.
