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"I know how they feel, I would never tell anybody about my family. I was too embarrassed."
"I feel great when I go up to King...it feeds my soul.”
"It makes me think about what I want out of my own success."
Quotes by DYM mentors
Dynamic quotes from dynamic young men. This holiday edition of Webb e-news is about the greatest gift of all—friendship.
This is a story about mentoring and modeling, caring and compassion, tears and joy. It's about the relationships formed between boys from Martin Luther King Elementary School and teens from Fort Vancouver High School. John Griffin, associate principal at Fort Vancouver, is the creative, caring spark behind the Dynamic Young Men, a group of Fort students who had encountered some difficulty in school.
At a recent district meeting, Griff described his work with the Dynamic Young Men to a colleague. He knew that a mentoring relationship would be transformative for these students, because teenage mentors often benefit as much, if not more, from their special relationships with younger kids. Melle Soles, associate principal at King, immediately thought of a group of “frequent flyers,” or students who have spent a great deal of time with her for a variety of reasons.
Was this conversation happenstance or “divine intervention”? Either way, I see it as a beautiful illustration of what can be accomplished through professional collaboration.
For several weeks, the Dynamic Young Men have visited King Elementary during lunch recess. They've connected with the King Kids outside on the playground by shooting hoops and playing tetherball and wall ball. Recently, the relationship went to a new level when the Fort students, along with John and Melle, met with the King students to talk about success in school and in life. The conversation that unfolded was remarkable for its honesty and empathy. The students sat around a table and introduced themselves—first the Dynamic Young Men and then the King Kids. They shared their interests, hobbies, and passions. Then, the older students told stories about their personal and “professional struggles”—difficulties at home and at school. Several of the teens revealed that they had never met their fathers, and that food and money were always concerns. Griff and Fort Vancouver High School, however, had made all the difference in their lives. They felt loved. They felt empowered.
As one of the Fort students spoke about never seeing his dad, one of the King Kids grunted, "Hmff!" Griff asked, "Can someone relate?" The boy answered “yes,” and then the King Kids simply opened up their hearts. Emotions cascaded and eyes filled up with tears of anger, sadness and loss. The Dynamic Young Men offered a comforting reassurance: "You've had difficulty, but it will be okay. Education is one of the keys to overcoming those struggles. We and others are here for you.”
Compassion, friendship and hope: these are the greatest gifts of the season. I wish the happiest of holidays to you and your family. Take time to relax, renew, and reconnect.
Merry Christmas!
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