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About You
Who are you? Why are you here at our web site? Why volunteer? What's in it for you?
Here is a little information about the kind of people, like you, who came to "visit" Operation Jump Start and stayed: We have over 50 adult mentors working with our students, and about fifteen new ones join us each year. Our mentors are quite a diverse bunch! They come from all races and ethnic groups. They are almost equally divided between men and women and they range in age from 24 to 73. One of our senior mentors is a gentleman who is now mentoring the younger brother of his first student, who by the way, successfully completed the program and is now in his second year at Cerritos College. Our mentors are people who are looking for rewarding volunteer opportunities. They are lawyers, teachers, engineers, pilots, police officers, financial planners and flight attendants, and we have several retirees as well as a few grandmas and grandpas!
As you can see, our mentors come from all walks of life and from across the socio-economic spectrum. You don't have to have a lot of money, a fancy job, an important title, a big house or an expensive car.
What does it take? All you need is a desire to make a difference in the life of a young person and the willingness to devote 6-8 hours per month to helping that student succeed. One of the things that all our mentors have is a BIG heart! Another common thread is the desire to share what they've learned in life with a youngster who shows a lot of promise but might be facing some obstacles in reaching his or her goals. Mentors are people who realize how much help they have received from families, friends, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, neighbors, and others in their communities; people who taught them and assisted them in both big and little ways& and they figure it's time to find volunteer opportunities to give back some of the richness they have received.
So, why volunteer? Some benefits to YOU:
- Feel good about giving
- Watch a kid's life improve before your eyes
- Make more friends and experience new opportunities
- Learn fresh skills and improve some you already have
| Here is what some of our mentors say about the benefits they've received:
Jenn: "I've made a whole new group of friends and have a fun new place to hang out with people I relate to."
Jose: "I didn't need more work, I needed more 'life' - it's been good for me."
Carla: "Priceless memories"
Jane: "I wanted to become a mentor to make a difference for somebody else, but I found out it's made a big difference for me."
Jane: "Being a mentor has expanded my experience and opened my heart. I've been inspired and touched by my mentee and by the nature of this amazing kind of relationship. The foundations are trust, commitment and listening. It has given me FAR more than I put in and has been a richer experience than I could have imagined. "
Michele - "My mentee is a terrific young woman -- bright, responsible and receptive. We have a good time together and are learning a lot from each other. I have also enjoyed getting to know the other mentors. These are dynamic people who really want to make a difference."
So, what's in it for you? As much as you want to put into it.
Get started, click here.
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