A World We Dare to Imagine
I feel like the best way to make a difference in the world would be to do something that directly benefits other people and allows you to connect with those who are in need. And as Ms. Novogratz and many others have suggested, you cannot just show up, build somethings, and then leave. Instead, you have to help underprivileged people help themselves---something that is sustainable.
I have often thought about that I would love to some day be a mentor, and especially a friend, for a kid from an underprivileged family. I know there are programs that already do similar things, but I would much rather do it on my own. Ideally, it would be a kid who I just randomly come across for some reason. Someone who is obviously a great kid with loads of potential, but who does not have access to some of the things that more privileged kids have. And I would want to approach it as a chance to get to know this kid and make a friend for life, and not as just being paired up with a kid in some program who I meet twice a year. By being that friend, I think I would be able to provide a kid with some of the things that he/she otherwise wouldn't have. For example, I could invite the kid to come work with me to help him/her gain work experience and build a resume. Access to internships that require college level skills may be very limited for some kids, so a chance to come work and learn without any previous skills could be very valuable. Basically, I would want to provide this kid with the tools that he/she needs to be successful in today's society. So everything from work experience and support in school, to helping them connect with my own network of professionals.
Maybe this wouldn't play out the way I imagine it. I imagine this relationship to be so much more than just a mentorship. I'm envisioning it more as a lifetime friendship kind of thing, while simultaneously helping someone break out of an underprivileged upbringing.
I have often thought about that I would love to some day be a mentor, and especially a friend, for a kid from an underprivileged family. I know there are programs that already do similar things, but I would much rather do it on my own. Ideally, it would be a kid who I just randomly come across for some reason. Someone who is obviously a great kid with loads of potential, but who does not have access to some of the things that more privileged kids have. And I would want to approach it as a chance to get to know this kid and make a friend for life, and not as just being paired up with a kid in some program who I meet twice a year. By being that friend, I think I would be able to provide a kid with some of the things that he/she otherwise wouldn't have. For example, I could invite the kid to come work with me to help him/her gain work experience and build a resume. Access to internships that require college level skills may be very limited for some kids, so a chance to come work and learn without any previous skills could be very valuable. Basically, I would want to provide this kid with the tools that he/she needs to be successful in today's society. So everything from work experience and support in school, to helping them connect with my own network of professionals.
Maybe this wouldn't play out the way I imagine it. I imagine this relationship to be so much more than just a mentorship. I'm envisioning it more as a lifetime friendship kind of thing, while simultaneously helping someone break out of an underprivileged upbringing.
sustainability is the key to assisting families in need. As the saying goes, "give a man a fish, feed him a day; teach a man how to fish, feed him for life." Mentoring kids are a great way to give back to the community. I don't think I am personally qualify or have the sense of responsibility to keep them in track let alone help them get an internship. But I do like the idea of a lifetime friendship!
ReplyDeleteI like that you want to put things into your own hand and not necessarily attack an entire population issue but affect a single life as best as you can. As for as what you said about teaching others to help themselves, at the end of the day, that can be the only long term solution.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea a lot. I totally understand the need for a mentor. Without my boss with the baseball team, I would be clueless moving forward trying to get internships and full time jobs. We've become really close since I started a couple years ago and have the type of relationship that you seem to be seeking with someone in the future. The only thing is that you never know when you'll meet that person that you can help out for the rest of their life. I think it is easier when they have either similar interests as you or want to get into the same professional field that you are in. Something you could possibly do is volunteer through a program at first, build that bond, and then continue it outside of the program.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely so many children who could use a mentor. It could all start with you, impacting one life, and then that child could go on to impact someone else's. Mentorship should be available to all children in need, and you could always look to get others involved, work with families of different backgrounds, and try to create a program that specializes on being their for a child in need as much as possible.
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