Ten years ago I read a newspaper article that articulated the benefit mentoring can provide to children needing a role model/friend; benefits such as an improved self worth, a greater likelihood of staying in school and staying out of trouble......and simply spending some time having fun.  It took a couple of years to get me motivated, but the article eventually inspired me to contact Dakota County based Kids 'n Kinship, learn the process of becoming a mentor, and then becoming one.

 

For me, it was a life changing experience.  My initial concern of committing time to meet with the 11 year old boy I was matched with once a week quickly evaporated with the good times we had together.  Our activities included bowling, shooting pool, cooking out on the grill, board games, movies and biking.  As he matured, I taught him to play racquetball and cribbage--he is now 19 years old, and beats me regularly at both.  A mentor's role is to be a role model, and a friend, to offer encouragement, and to be nonjudgmental.  In addition to being there for him, he was there for me.  I wouldn't understand half of the features that that today's electronic gadgetry offered if he wasn't there to teach me.  

 

Along with several companions, I created and have ridden the Merchants Bank Christian Elder Memorial 900 each of the past six years.  The ride, a memorial to my son Christian Elder, is ridden as a benefit to Kids 'n Kinship.  We embark on our seventh Christian Elder Memorial 900 on March 24.  Those interested in following our bicycling adventure are invited to check out our Road Diary on the website http://www.cem900.com./

 

Tonight I'm spending some time with my friend.  I am no longer his formal mentor; he has his own apartment living in Minneapolis.  I treasure the time spent with him as a youngster, as a teenager, and finally as a young adult.  My only concern for this evening is which one of us will win at cribbage..........

 

- John Elder, ambassador & former mentor with Kids 'n Kinship