IU students mentor high school students

Pins crash down, and three Bloomington New Tech High School students crowd around the scorecard in disbelief.

IU freshman Jamar Wingo just bowled a strike and was winning the game.

The Men of Color Leadership Institute sponsored a bowling social with students from New Tech High School and their families Thursday night at the Indiana Memorial Union’s Back Alley. Members of the institute visit the high school weekly and are mentors to freshmen there.

Wingo, the first vice president of the institute, said the social is a way to be with the students outside of school and gain their trust. He said he visits and eats lunch with his mentees about three times a week and calls and texts them, just like friends would.

“It’s someone always there when you need to talk,” New Tech freshman Brandon Helms said.

The mentors will continue to visit New Tech for the rest of the semester.

IU freshman DaJuan Hamilton, a mentor and public relations manager for the institute, said he is planning to support his mentee by going to different events at the high school and will continue to help him down the road.

He said the program is all about having an open heart and reaching out while the students are freshmen. Patrick Smith, the institute’s adviser, said the mentor program is very successful, and the administration, students and mentors were all very excited when it began.

“I think it went great,” he said, “On a scale of one to 10, it’s an 11.”

New Tech freshman Austin Alexander said he likes to hang out with his mentor because he is more of a friend than a teacher.

Even though he isn’t a mentor, IU freshman Lamont Lankford, social activities engagement director for the institute, came to the social as a way to support the group. He said the program has helped the group become well-rounded and open up to one another.

Smith said he wants the mentor program to continue and serve as a model for other groups to emulate. He added the group is united and members share understanding of one another. Most of the members of the institute are freshmen, and Smith said the young age of the group will provide continuity for the future.

“If they didn’t have that shared continuity, if they didn’t work together, they wouldn’t be as successful as they are,” Smith said.

IU freshman Darius Durham, the institute’s secretary, said having someone look up to him has changed him and given him a more positive outlook on life. He added he calls his students to get to know them and give them a big brother.

New Tech freshman Gage East said his mentor talks to him about college and his life.
“That’s really the key: to get them to start thinking about
college and being responsible,” Smith said.

He added the students can speak candidly and ask questions about college life.
Wingo said he and the students have had common experiences, and he said he tries to help them by talking about his own experiences. Hamilton said the social was a chance for students to see the mentors in a familiar setting and that he would like to bring the students on campus for a day to see what their mentors do on a daily basis.

New Tech freshman Richard Chandler said his mentor has taught him to not skip class and how to tie a tie. He added he texts his mentor when he wants to talk to him.
Smith said the program is an opportunity for the members to give back and learn about themselves and from the participants to deal with different situations.

“From a standpoint of diversity, everyone learns, and everyone wins,” he said.