Cole Come's and Cares

Details: Created on Friday, 13 March 2015 20:41; Written by Ryan Jenot

ST. JOHNSBURY- Terri Cole, a homeowner specialist for Rural Edge in Lyndonville, also spends time every week volunteering for the JUMP Youth Mentoring Program at the Northeast Kingdom Youth Services. For the past 3 years, she has been a mentor for a student named Haley.

Cole, who has 2 girls of her own, has had a great experience in the program and with her mentee.

"She's phenomenal," said Cole. "She's adventurous and she's artistic and she's very knowledgeable."

Haley, who is now an 8th grader, was paired with Cole just 3 years ago. She started the program after her older brother finished the program 4 years ago. Her brother is now a senior in high school and has maintained contact with his mentor since he finished the program.

The JUMP Youth Mentoring Program, which was started in 2003, serves at-risk youths entering 1st through 8th grades. In order to become a mentor, you must be at least 17 years old and meet your mentee for one hour every week for the entire school year. Some activities mentors and mentees can do include playing games, eating lunch, and hanging out.

JUMP Youth Mentoring Program Coordinator Sarah Sanville said that most mentors don't realize how much they enjoy it mentoring until they've done it.

"The biggest response that we get from mentors is that I'm getting way more out of this than I expected," said Sanville, who started her position in December.

Cole, who did not have a mentoring program when she was in school, has built a strong relationship with Haley.

"I think it's a strong connection that people can build and sometimes you just need that one person that you can vent to," said Cole. "That one person that will listen to you."

Now that Haley is in 8th grade, this is the final year that she is eligible for the mentoring program. For Cole, that means she'll have to find a new mentee.

"I've spent 3 years with her. We've really bonded," said Cole. "We have a special connection she and I. I consider her kind of like my kid if that makes sense. Obviously she's not that much younger than me, but we really have a special connection."

According to Cole, the program still needs mentors, as they only have 14 currently signed up.

"It's just about making a friendship and connection with someone who just needs someone, so more people should do it."

If you're interested in becoming a mentor, you can go to the Northeast Kingdom Youth Services website and fill out an application.