One of the first students that I began mentoring for AmeriCorps was a girl
named Liz. She had struggled just to advance to 6th grade. I was asked to
be her mentor to help her stay on task, organized and hopefully to succeed
in school. At the beginning of the year, the failing pattern continued
with her not passing several tests and quizzes in Math. Finally, Liz and I
sat down and came up with some goals to help her progress in her studies.
Liz started getting help with her math and trying hard to get a good grade
on her daily assignments so she would then do better on quizzes and tests.
A couple weeks later Liz ran into the After Hours tutoring program with
her face beaming! She gave me a big hug and told me how she aced her math
quiz. Her face was filled with amazement at what she was able to
accomplish! While it may have been a small success, it sparked Liz's
desire to do better (well) in school. Liz benefited from our
mentoring/tutoriing experience by understanding that success is possible
and she can accomplish the goals she sets. While she continues to struggle
at times, Liz continues to work hard and put forth the effort. As the
AmeriCorps member it is exciting to see her begin to understand that
success is reachable and attainable!

     -Laurie, 2008-2009 Superior AmeriCorps member


It was almost Christmas break and I was at the afterschool tutoring
program. Two fun, bright, and friendly elementary girls who I've tutored
and mentored throughout the quarter were in the room today. Since they
were done with their homework, they were given time to draw, write and be
creative. When it came time to leave for the day, the two girls came up to
me with big smiles and handed me a hand-crafted box they had made out of
paper in the room. It was so cutely decorated with the words "Merry
Christmas" on the outside, however it was what was on the inside that
grabbed me. In the box was a poem that read: "Roses are red, violets are
blue, nothing beats our time working with you!"

     -Ashley, 2008-2009 Superior AmeriCorps member


Sir Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, we make
a life by what we give." i gave time and in return my life has been
changed by the students in the high school. The relationships that have
been built there will always be carried within me. My character has been
molded and changed because of students dedication to their work even when
they didn't feel like doing it, students who give a smile back when a
smile is given, students who press on even though their heart is breaking,
students who say thank you when you help them bring a task to
completion... it is not what we get back though, it is the giving from the
heart that makes it all worthwhile.

     -Beth, 2008-2009 Superior AmeriCorps member


One of the seniors that I mentor, Ann, needed to go to MTU on a campus
visit in order to register for her classes in the fall. Ann has been a
mentor student of mine since last year. She is considered not only a
disadvantaged youth, but she also has a parent currently incarcerated. Her
home life has been far from perfect, and I have always taken a little
extra care of Ann.

After our AmeriCorps meeting let out for lunch, I ran and picked up Ann
and took her to campus. We expected to be there about an hour getting her
things organized, but it wound up being an incredible adventure. I took
her to meet her advisor who surprised her and presented her with a
scholarship that she has been awarded. It truly started off the visit with
a bang! She was just ecstatic. After we laid out her courses and things,
we headed to the Registar's Office to get Ann registered for classes.
When we got there, we found out that she would have to pay the $100
enrollment fee in order to schedule. Even though she had been approved for
all kinds of financial aid, won this scholarship, etc. there was no way to
waive this fee. And Ann, who works to support her brother and her
household while her primary parent (the only one in the home) is "out"
did not have the fee.

We went to very department I could think of to come up with this money. We
called every social service we could think of. Nothing. It was clear Ann
was sure that college was not in her cards - it was something she had
been fighting to do as long as I can remember. Going to college for ANN
would be her ticket to a better life for her and her brother. This would
make a serious change. It would not only benefit her, but set a great
example for her little brother.

Being an AmeriCorps member, I don't make much money at all. But this was
important. I wrote the check for her $100 enrollment deposit. We scheduled
the classes. Ann was really quiet and acting really strange. After almost
two hours of craziness in getting Ann registered for college, when we hit
the doors to head to the car, she burst into tears.

She thanked me three hundred times for paying the deposit. She said how
grateful she was that I always took time out for her whenever she needed
it and that I cared about her, when she felt like no one else did. She
said how much it meant that someone believed in her. She said no one
believed in her these days, it was nice to know that someone did.
It warmed my heart, pretty much brought me to tears and made me feel like
in that moment, the work I do, the connection I make with my students -
it matters to someone. And I am so thankful that I get to be in the
schools where I feel at home, where I can make a difference and I can do
what I LOVE. I know because of my service, this individual WILL go to
college in the fall.

     -Heather, 2008-2009 Superior AmeriCorps member

***Note: names of students may have been changed***