Mentor Program – A Mentor/Mentee Story: On-going and Long-lasting

Danette and Sarina - 1998

Mentor: Danette

Mentee: Sarina

Match Start Date: 2nd Grade – Fall 1998

Match End Date: High-School Graduation 2009

Friendship: on-going and long-lasting

Mentor experience:

I am the youngest in my immediate family and do not have any children of my own. To become a CISR mentor gave me an opportunity to be a positive influence in another person’s life. When Sarina and I first met, she was only in second grade. In pictures, I would kneel down and we were basically the same height. Now she has graduated from high school and we see eye to eye.
 


In grade school, Sarina and I did many art projects. We would meet once a week for an hour at a time. During these one hour sessions, I was able to experience the stages of childhood with Sarina. One week she’d be the sweetest girl. The next week she’d tell me that I was “evil…very, very evil”.  ha-ha (I believe it was a popular saying in a cartoon at that time.) Whether good or bad, I was always excited to see her because she always had a smile on her face when I arrived. Sarina has always been an excellent artist even at a young age. I would admire her shading abilities and detail in her drawings. She would comment on my need to clean up as we worked instead of waiting until the very end. I guess, through her, I learned some things about myself too.


Middle and high school posed more difficulties to meet once a week due to fluctuating class schedules and a more intense school work load. Not to mention her desire to hang with her friends. However, we made do. I would sometimes go to class with her, or meet for a lunch break. I attended school concerts in which Sarina participated. I beamed when I saw her play her violin. So talented.



Sarina's Graduation

I remember our first encounter in high school after a long duration of not seeing each other. The CISR Family Liaison and I surprised Sarina on her lunch break. It took her a minute to realize that I was standing behind her but within seconds she jumped up and gave me the biggest bear hug. Sarina was still my sweet mentee.
 


Sarina is now a graduate from Renton High School. To see her receive her diploma was an amazing experience. It was also amazing to sit in on her senior project and listen to her speaking fluent Japanese. She is an incredible young lady with a very bright future. Like I mentioned earlier, I became a CISR mentor to be a positive influence in another person’s life. Who knew that that person would do the same for me.