Time is the current that pushes up downstream. People are the rocks we encounter. The more rocks, the purer, clearer water. A mountain stream is more interesting than a stagnant creek. Or something like that.
My mixed-up metaphor comes to mind because of a very special program my third-grade son has been a part of. Top seniors from the local high school have been coming to his class this year to pair off with a third grader and mentor them. The young man (I sound old as dirt when I use that term) who has been mentoring my son is as good of a person as I’ve encountered. My son loves him and thinks of him as his big brother. (My son has a big brother, but they generally fight). It’s the finest program I’ve seen in the schools in years.
Last night we had a reception where they presented videos they had made together. My wife and I got a chance to once again thank him. He’ll graduate soon and is going into an honors college program. He’s on track to become a pediatric surgeon like his father.
Yup, that’s the kind of influence I want my son to be around.
The people we encounter shape us. The ones we befriend define us. My son made a great friend this year and is better off for it. And as a dad, that makes me proud.
More schools need programs like this. I’m sure it’s beneficial to both the third-grader AND the senior.
We have something sort of like that in our local school, but because of limited resources, we focus on kids from at-risk families (those with no stable adult in the picture). We have some adults from our church that go and listen (and talk) to the kids. It breaks my heart to know that a 6th grader has to miss school to go to an appointment with her attorney.