News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
A dedicated cadre of Sisters Country volunteers is helping local teens define and chase their dreams.
The mentors of the Sisters High School ASPIRE program help students figure out their best course for post-high-school education, whether it's admittance to the university of their dreams or a path to a vocation.
And the volunteers will tell you that they get as much out of the work as the students do.
"Being around young people is very energizing," says ASPIRE mentor Susan Parker. "I think I'm making a difference and I'm having a ball along the way."
ASPIRE mentors work one-on-one with several individual students, starting with juniors who are just getting a perspective beyond the horizon of high school graduation. They help them sort out paperwork and get their SAT/ACT testing lined up. More importantly, they encourage them to start thinking in concrete terms about their future.
"We try to get them to focus a little bit on what they might want to do for a career or study in college," says mentor Dee Thompson.
Once the students become seniors, the focus starts to hone in on definite steps down a path. That includes defining what kind of post-high-school education is desired. Some are looking immediately at a four-year university; others at community college for a couple of years; still others at a vocational path or military service. And they have to figure out how it's all going to be financed.
Mentors take seriously the goal for which ASPIRE forms an acronym: Access to Student Assistance Programs In Reach of Everyone.
"It's like a puzzle and it's really, really fun to put it all together and have, at the end of the day, students be excited about their future," says Parker.
Diane Russell noted that, "I had a student who wanted to be a massage therapist. Finding appropriate programs and appropriate schools was rewarding to me and rewarding to her."
Mentors don't have to have a deep knowledge of resources themselves, nor do they have to be particularly computer-savvy - the kids have that covered. ASPIRE director Susannah Harrison oversees training of the mentors, and the program also has access to the services of Central Oregon Community College's college admissions expert, Theresa Wadden.
Mentors note that Wadden is an exceptional resource for students and parents.
Russell, who had a 25-year career in higher education, says, "I've never met anyone as knowledgeable as Theresa Wadden. It's just phenomenal."
What mentors bring to the relationship is the perspective of an objective adult - at an age when teens need adult guidance, but aren't necessarily tuned in to mom and dad.
Harrison notes that ASPIRE volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
"It's kind of remarkable," she says. "It's a wonderful bunch of resources that come together here."
Some have education backgrounds; others are business people. Some have military experience. Harrison notes that "some of my best volunteers are people who have not completed their education." They can communicate how difficult it can be to come back to school as a single parent.
Parker worked for 40 years in management at Macy's, during which time she was an active mentor. ASPIRE provided an opportunity to continue that positive experience.
Mentors also note that the program allows a lot of flexibility in scheduling. They're not locked in to a weekly program.
ASPIRE does not promote any single course of action. It's all about what is best for the student, even when that's not the high-school-to-college step.
"I am the advocate for gap year, AmeriCorps - things that may be a little more non-traditional," Harrison said.
The right fit is critical. And that involves a lot of factors. For example, some Sisters students are ready to experience a big-city-big-school environment, while others want to carry forward the small community experience they grew up on. Finding a college or vocational program that fits those parameters is as important as finding the right
content.
Russell notes that her experience shows that first-year students often struggle in college - and it's not usually a problem with academic rigor.
"Where the trouble comes in is when the fit isn't right for the student," she says. "I feel our students are so much better prepared because of this ASPIRE program."
Financial considerations are also paramount - now more than ever. ASPIRE mentors help students seek financial assistance and scholarships.
The mentorship experience is a powerful one.
"It's hard to express," Thompson says. "It's even hard not to tear up. The kids seem to appreciate that you're taking your time and helping them. At the end of the year, you get thank-you notes that just tie your heart up in knots."
Russell says she still hears from students whom she mentored through ASPIRE, students who continue to appreciate the help they received in picking out their post-high-school path.
For more information on the resources available through ASPIRE or to explore volunteering as a mentor, contact Harrison at 541-549-3203.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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