Conversation with a First Grade Mentor

Yesterday was the Texaco Retiree Luncheon, and since I've taken on the role of Asst. Secretary, I had to be there early to get some things ready. We finished early, so I had time to visit with some of the others who have service roles in the organization.

One conversation was with Eleanor, who during the school year serves as a volunteer mentor at the elementary school near her home. Every morning she spends an hour at the school helping two children with reading. She has different children each day, so all together she works with 10 children, working with each child every week. For many of the children, English is a second language. For others there may be a learning disability.

Eleanor told me about a couple of the children -- about how they had improved in their reading and how excited they were when they passed their tests. She was especially proud of one girl she helped who had dislexia. Eleanor's daughter had dislexia, so she had some experience in helping. With Eleanor's help and encouragement, the girl was able to improve her reading skills and be on grade level. You could tell from the sparkle in her eyes how much that meant to Eleanor.

She also told me that she was always trying to get other retirees to mentor, but that she hadn't been successful. Eleanor thinks fear of the unknown is a big factor. She said that her friends ask her all kinds of questions about how she does it -- like her mentoring is some sort of super-human effort. She said that she keeps explaining that it's not -- it's just being there and spending time with the children reading. Still she has a hard time convincing others.

She did tell me about a neighbor who also mentors at the school. But he likes to work with fifth graders, and math is his thing. Eleanor says she could never do math mentoring, so it's good that people with different interests and abilities agree to mentor. And she indicated that's there's a comradship between her and her neighbor. They see each other in the neighborhood, and always wave.

Serving has taken on an important life role for Eleanor. It was fun seeing her excitement, sense of purpose, and satisfaction from this role she's taken on. It's sad that so many others have not found this joy in retirement -- for themselves, and for those who would be the beneficiaries of their serving.