As part of their WAM responsibility, mentors reflect on their experiences: successes, challenges and lessons learned. Here are some excerpts of their reflections:
"...I have become a more understanding and active listener to my friends and family, as well as my mentees"
"I will continue to be a helpful bystander...I'll keep this experience the rest of my life."
"Being a WAM mentor has made me much more aware of the social problems going on around LACS. It has made me think more about how to be an "upstander" and how to make a positive contribution against bullying."
"Students wanting to be WAM mentors should know that it is much harder than it seems, but that being a WAM mentor is incredibly fulfilling."
"I've learned how to take initiative in helping sort out difficult or uncomfortable situations. I've also personally gotten a sense of deeper community within LACS"
It's a lot of hard, sometimes stressful work depending on how committed you are. But if you aren't committed then you will get absolutely nothing out of it, and will probably not achieve as much as you wish to achieve."
"I have gotten out of my shell as a result of being a mentor. Also, I got more fearless as a leader in general."
"I have become much more aware of myself this year by being a mentor. I have learned to set a good example and think about my actions and words before I do something or speak in a school environment because it is very true that younger students look up to you and if you are acting out, the will too."
"I have learned to be extremely sensitive and to listen thoroughly. I learned that is important to be a good role model in all aspects of my life."
"Once I was at ASM and there was a group of students that were being very loud and talking about inappropriate things. After asking them repeatedly to please be quiet I finally went and sat with in the middle of the group. As it turned out, they were interested but they didn't know what was going on in the meeting. As I explained it to them, they became quieter and actually ended up speaking during the meeting. I became friends with a few of them."
"Personally I have received a stronger voice. I now really speak up when I see injustices happen: swearing, budging, bullying, littering. Last year I might not have spoken up unless it affected my friend group. Now it doesn't matter."
Advice to new mentors: "Be bold. The incoming mentors should push themselves out of their comfort zones. That's really the only way to be able to stand up against injustices or sticky situations."
"There have been countless situations where I have asked or questioned the use of swearing. Many of those instances with the same people, but I believe that consistency is key. Eventually they will get it."
"I think that new mentors should know that you have to talk to your mentors a lot and not treat them like they're 6th graders but like they're your friends. You should also be positive because some of the mentees will follow your lead."
"I really love the feeling of being someone's supporter or mentor. I've expanded my friend-base and gotten to be more accepting. I think that being available and talkative from the beginning is key to connecting with mentors."
"I will continue to be a helpful bystander...I'll keep this experience the rest of my life."
"Being a WAM mentor has made me much more aware of the social problems going on around LACS. It has made me think more about how to be an "upstander" and how to make a positive contribution against bullying."
"Students wanting to be WAM mentors should know that it is much harder than it seems, but that being a WAM mentor is incredibly fulfilling."
"I've learned how to take initiative in helping sort out difficult or uncomfortable situations. I've also personally gotten a sense of deeper community within LACS"
It's a lot of hard, sometimes stressful work depending on how committed you are. But if you aren't committed then you will get absolutely nothing out of it, and will probably not achieve as much as you wish to achieve."
"I have gotten out of my shell as a result of being a mentor. Also, I got more fearless as a leader in general."
"I have become much more aware of myself this year by being a mentor. I have learned to set a good example and think about my actions and words before I do something or speak in a school environment because it is very true that younger students look up to you and if you are acting out, the will too."
"I have learned to be extremely sensitive and to listen thoroughly. I learned that is important to be a good role model in all aspects of my life."
"Once I was at ASM and there was a group of students that were being very loud and talking about inappropriate things. After asking them repeatedly to please be quiet I finally went and sat with in the middle of the group. As it turned out, they were interested but they didn't know what was going on in the meeting. As I explained it to them, they became quieter and actually ended up speaking during the meeting. I became friends with a few of them."
"Personally I have received a stronger voice. I now really speak up when I see injustices happen: swearing, budging, bullying, littering. Last year I might not have spoken up unless it affected my friend group. Now it doesn't matter."
Advice to new mentors: "Be bold. The incoming mentors should push themselves out of their comfort zones. That's really the only way to be able to stand up against injustices or sticky situations."
"There have been countless situations where I have asked or questioned the use of swearing. Many of those instances with the same people, but I believe that consistency is key. Eventually they will get it."
"I think that new mentors should know that you have to talk to your mentors a lot and not treat them like they're 6th graders but like they're your friends. You should also be positive because some of the mentees will follow your lead."
"I really love the feeling of being someone's supporter or mentor. I've expanded my friend-base and gotten to be more accepting. I think that being available and talkative from the beginning is key to connecting with mentors."