I Make the Time to Mentor
By Erica Dickens, Florida A&M University, March 17, 2004

Mentoring is a gift in itself. It gives people the chance to influence children in more ways than one. But what is a mentor?

A mentor is an adult or a college student, who, along with parents, provides young people with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there.

A mentor is a:
- a guide
- a friend
- a listener
- a coach
- a responsive adult

I have been a mentor since September 2002. I find it very fulfilling and exciting to mentor a child. My experience has been a great one so I would like for others to share that experience with me.

Being a full-time college student, I barely have time to give to mentoring, but I make the time. Most college students wouldn't because they don't have a complete understanding about the impact mentoring has. If a person doesn't know the purpose, why would that person engage in or inquire about mentoring? Through CAMP (College Athletes Mentor Program), college athletes are given the chance to make a difference in some unsuspecting child's life.

There are plenty of children in need of support from outside sources. Many neighborhood children do not get the chance to see positive influences within their homes, their schools or their neighborhoods.

CAMP dedicates its time to making sure children see there are better ways and alternative routes to any situation.

I would like to initiate CAMP at Florida A&M University. Once the program jumps off, I would like to place a similar program at Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College.

The children need this program as much as the athletes do. It will help to minimize juvenile crimes and decrease juvenile statistics. If children are our future, why don't we start in the present so that they know their future is guaranteed?

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