Oh where did the summer go?

Camp is Sunday and school is right around the corner.  The summer has slipped right through our fingers.  I must say I am a little glad to see it go with the type of heat North Texas has had recently.  I am just ready for some rain.  Thanks to everyone who attended the mentor training!  Our next one is right around the bend on September 17th.  We ask all mentors to show for at least 1 training a year.   If your student is going to camp we encourage you to meet with them upon their return and help process their experience and all they have learned.  Just bombard them with questions. Lastly we are bringing on a new staff member here at Mercy Street.  Mindy is passing the baton to Jill Harmeyer as soon as camp wraps up.  Jill will introduce herself personally to all female mentors when she arrives.

Here is a pic of Jill!

Edison Middle School CHARGE

Parents, Faculty, Administration, and 8th grade students I count it a special privilege to address you today.  I have been called upon to submit a charge to our 8th graders before they take their first steps into high school.  My first words must be that I love you guys.

Many of you are what convinced my wife and I that West Dallas should be where we call home.  Several  of you come by our home and share meals around our table or have taught me how to dance or broken all of our lamps during epic wrestling battles.  I think you 8th graders are incredible people and I am thrilled to watch your future unfold.  

Before I send you on your way I come bearing a charge from those who have gone before you. In my 5 years here in West Dallas I have spent a lot of time with people just a few years farther down the road than you.  And I come bearing a message from them.  I could put 50 people on stage that would share this same message.

Choose a different road.  I have watched as guys just can’t find a job anywhere.  I have watched as girls try to hustle to find money to feed their newborns.  I have watched as guys get handcuffed and put into police cars.  People have come to me and said, “if I just would have paid more attention in school.” Or “if I just wouldn’t have started hangin’ with those guys.” Or “if I just wouldn’t have let him kiss me.”  I spend a lot of time with a lot of people who have regrets.  People who had big dreams but made small choices leading them in the opposite direction of those dreams.  My charge comes from them.

Choose a different road.  Giving your absolute best effort in school is one step down that different road.  But you can be the smartest kid in the class and still go to the pen for dealing on the corner.  You must choose to live for something more than money, something more than sex, something more than popularity or cars or your swagger.  That is the road almost everyone is choosing.  May I and those that have gone before you urge you to choose a different road than what you’ve seen before.  Try something new.  Our neighborhood needs you.  Those younger need someone to look up to.  May you have the courage to rebel against what is normal and stand on your own two feet.  Few men and few women have ever been that brave.

Camp is on the horizon!

 

Vk2 students are invited to join us for a week at Pine Cove this summer.  The dates are August 7-14th.  Mentors can help in two ways!  

1. Help get your student signed up when applications are released in June.  

2.  Consider going with us to Pine Cove and being your student's and 5 other student's counselor.  We can't do camp without volunteers.  Mentors in the past have said spending an entire week with their student was one of the best things they did to improve their relationship.  Please let us know as soon as possible if you are interested.

Welcome to our new blog!

Welcome to our little spot in the massive world of internet communication.  Our hope is to have a place mentors (of middle schoolers) can easily access with all the information they need.  We hope this blog can be a place you keep up to date on pertinent West Dallas and mentoring information as well as a place you can find some encouragement.  One way to know if we have made a post on the blog is to type your email in on the right side where it says "follow by email".  That way each time a post is made you will receive an email letting you know.  Just an idea!