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Lesson 16 of 20 · Stories
The Mentor
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I became a mentor to a younger student. He was in second grade. He needed help with reading. I met with him twice a week. I was determined to help him improve. We read books together. We talked about the stories. At first it was a challenge. He was shy. He did not want to make mistakes. I told him that mistakes were how we learn. Gradually he got more confident. I learned to appreciate how hard learning to read can be. I had a responsibility to be patient. I had to show up. I had to be kind. My influence might be small. But it mattered. It became a tradition for us to read together. Our little community was the two of us. By the end of the year he was reading better. He had discovered that he could do it. I had discovered that teaching is rewarding. The mentor program had changed both of us. I was grateful for the experience. I would never forget his smile when he read his first chapter book. The challenge had been worth it.