20 questions with a West High School mentor

1. Why did you decide to become a mentor?

My freshman year when I came in, I honestly knew no one. When we first started the MVP classes, it was like meeting these role models that I was able to become friends with. I just kind of wanted to set the same example.

2. What do you do as a mentor?

As a mentor I pretty much show what it's like to be a bystander. I put myself in situations where kids would naturally think that they wouldn't be in. I just try to be a role model for my freshmen.

3. Are you paired up with a student? How does the curriculum work?

All the freshmen in general. They get divided up into classrooms.

4. When you were a freshman was there something a mentor said that impacted you?

One thing that stood out to me ... Nate (Mohrhauser) over there, he was my freshman mentor. He once told me I should be a mentor because I was very loud and vocal and giving my opinion.

5. How is West High School's mentoring program unique from other programs?

I think it's unique because we kind of started everything. We've been around longer; and we know what to do.

6. What training did you receive to become a mentor?

We go to these summits that we have at (Western Iowa Tech Community College). We have mentors from North, East and South Sioux. We all gather there are get classes on each of these scenarios. What we're talking about is what we talked about at each of these summits. It's really helpful.

7. What do you hope students take away from the mentoring session that you had today?

What I think they really need to understand about this is that we're trying to do this so they can understand the situation that they're in right now so they don't have to think later.

8. What are some problems freshmen come to you with?

There's been quite a few from personal problems to public problems to their inner self problems like feelings and emotions. There are different things that kids come to me for.

9. What are some things that you struggled with as a freshman?

I struggled with trying to actually show my emotions -- how to describe them. As a freshman I was very incoherent with my words. I would think something, but I didn't know what to say.

10. What's the best advice anybody has ever given you whether it be another student or an adult?

Always keep being vocal no matter what. That was said to me several times.

11. Would you encourage other students to become a mentor?

I would.

12. Why?

It's something that's very great. You get to meet people. You get to do things that make you feel better.

13. What's the most challenging aspect of mentoring?

It would be at the very beginning, trying to get freshmen to open up to you. The challenge is establishing that relationship between friends and teacher. As freshmen they come in scared because they're making this big transfer. You want to have them feel comfortable as if we're their friends, family. That's the hardest part.

14. What's the most rewarding thing about mentoring?

There's too many. One of the top things is you get to be friends with excellent grown kids.

15. What are your plans?

I want to study law and help others.

16. If you could be a high school freshman again, what would you do differently?

I wouldn't do anything differently. Everything I did has brought me to where I am now.

17. Would could current freshmen do differently?

They're not doing anything wrong necessarily. They're just entering a big transition where they're scared. It's easy to understand because I was once a freshman and was really scared like them. They won't open up. They won't talk. That's what they could do differently, but it's kind of hard to tell them, 'You have to talk.'

18. What skills make a good mentor?

If you're very friendly and get to know them personally -- what they do outside of school.

19. How do you prepare for mentoring sessions?

All the mentors get together every Tuesday because we have MVP on every Wednesday with our freshmen.

20. What's the most important thing you've learned about mentoring?

Basically that being a bystander is what matters.