On Feb 14, 2018, a teen gunman entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL killing 17 innocent students and faculty, injuring another 17. While many are saying “enough is enough” after yesterday’s school shooting in Texas, “enough was enough” many years ago at Columbine High School.
After the 2018 school massacre in FL, I had grown tired of the virtue signaling and political rhetoric. I felt called to action. Within days, I scheduled meetings with some Lexington One administrators I knew, and, within 2 weeks, I announced to a large gathering of my F3 brothers that I was going to start a mentor program within our school district.
It was no surprise to me that soon after this declaration 75-100 men and women from our F3 and FiA groups in Lexington, SC committed to mentoring an elementary or middle school student.
I had meetings with school administrators, guidance counselors, anyone who would listen, and what I learned was our schools were desperate for mentors. Each school had dozens of “at-risk” students just waiting on someone to mentor them. Largely, school’s guidance counselors had a program in place. What they needed were willing mentors and, thankfully, we were able to provide that.
For the last part of the 2018 school year through February 2020, we were in schools daily providing much needed attention to students practically screaming for help. These “at-risk’ students weren’t/aren’t bad kids. They are kids that need some guidance, someone to talk to, someone to listen, someone they can count on.
Then COVID happened. COVID not only prevented us from entering the schools, but it also derailed these “at-risk” students even further. COVID also created a whole new list of students that are suffering greatly from the lack of social interaction, from loneliness, from falling too far behind academically. We are going to see the effects COVID has had on our youth for many years to come.
It’s time to get back to mentoring. It was time before yesterday’s events in Texas that senselessly ended 21 lives and tragically affected 100s more.
Here’s what I need from you: 1) Stop talking and do something about it. Talking is what politicians do to get votes. We can debate all day long and get nowhere as to why this keeps happening. All I know is the mental health and stability of our students is vital. Our schools’ guidance counselors do a tremendous job, but they need our help. 2) Commit to me that for the Fall 2022-Spring 2023 school year you will mentor a student at a local school. Believe me, it was out of my comfort zone, but I found it be one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done. Thirty minutes per week…that’s the amount of time it takes to positively affect a student’s life. Here is a story I posted in August 2018: https://www.f3midlands.com/columbia-sc/f3-mentor-program-we-need-your-help
If you have my number, call me. If you can, please DM me. My email address is [email protected]. Please email me. I will be glad to answer any questions you have.
I commit to our community that I will work with every elementary and middle school in Lexington One to gain access so that we can mentor. I strongly believe we can make a huge difference.
Matthew 9:37 “Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Sincerely,
KD