Each week I get to mentor a child from a local elementary school in Raleigh. This is my second year in the program, and I was able to mentor the same child again – Matilda. She is a super sweet little girl that is in 3^rd grade and turning 9 years old soon. She wants to be a scientist when she grows up as she enjoys combining things and working with funnels.

One of my favorite memories with Matilda comes from last year when we first met. I asked her what her favorite animal is and she said, “a bear.” When I asked her what type of bear she liked the most, she replied “the regular ones.” From there I explained the different types of bears – grizzly, black, polar, etc… By “regular” she meant “grizzly.” From that point onwards, I made sure to put bear drawings on her gift bags & cards – which she thought was cute.

I love getting to teach her new things and listen to her perspectives during our mentoring sessions. She is extremely creative and loves talking about a ton of different things. Matilda, as well as all the other kids within this program, are a standout moment of my week and I really enjoy getting to meet with them all.

One of the best parts of this program is that it is free to the families that join (meaning Matilda’s parents do not need to give anything for her to participate) and to the volunteers (so I do not need to pay any dues). Your donation will help the program fund its materials for our weekly meetings and the transportation the kids need to get here!