Success is... Serving as a TnAchieves Mentor

By Charles Whiting
Motlow Buzz Editor-in-Chief

            There’s something exciting about volunteering for the TnAchieves/Tennessee Promise program. Perhaps it has something to do with the great memories I have of my very first day of college and the anticipation of the life-changing experiences to come. When I learned about the program and the opportunity to volunteer, that’s the first thing that crossed my mind. It would be a wonderful way to help incoming students with big dreams have a smooth transition to college, while reliving a few unforgettable memories.

            I love the slogan TnAchieves uses: “Changing Lives, Transforming Communities.” According to the organization, its mission is to increase higher education opportunities for Tennessee high school students by providing last-dollar scholarships with mentor guidance.

            The leadership at TnAchieves has been outstanding, starting with a well-organized and encouraging orientation to the program. Mentors begin by selecting a high school for their mentees and attending a one-hour training session with overview, instruction and Q&A. A wide range of dates, times and locations are available, making the process a breeze.

(Photo of Charles Whiting and TnAchieves mentee Brandon Pineda by Jonathan Graham)

            When you arrive for your kick-off mentor meeting, TNAchieves representatives greet you with a smile. They ask you to sign an attendance sheet, then give you a booklet that contains a thorough list and description of student to-dos with deadlines. Mentors are encouraged to communicate regularly with their assigned students over the coming months to provide advice and reminders for due dates.

            The student checklist includes completing their TnPromise Application, attending team meetings, applying to an eligible Tennessee Promise institution, and completing eight hours of community service.

            I was assigned an initial seven male students at Smyrna High School in Rutherford County. My first task was to write each student to remind them about their upcoming first team meeting. I used an e-mail message to introduce myself and tell them a little bit about college life. Several students and/or parents responded, saying they looked forward to meeting me.

            We met for the first time during a specially called Tennessee Promise assembly in the school’s auditorium attended by several hundred students and their parents. During our meeting at an assigned table, I introduced myself and invited them to touch base or drop by to see me if they had any questions. It was fun learning more about them and meeting some of their parents. If I didn’t have the answer to a question, I’d walk them over to a staff member like Jonathan Graham. I asked each student to introduce himself and confirm his contact information. I followed up after the meeting with a note saying I looked forward to working with them.

            In the ensuing weeks and months, TnAchieves provided helpful correspondence about upcoming deadlines, asking mentors to remind their assigned students. To be eligible for Tennessee Promise, candidates had to submit all requested admissions documents to the anticipated college by May 1 and complete eight hours of community service by July 1. They would need to enroll as a full-time student at a Tennessee Promise-eligible institution (minimum of 12 hours) and attend team meetings on various dates hosted by TnAchieves. They would also have to file applications for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) by a certain deadline.

            With so many to-dos with stringent deadlines, you can see how valuable a mentor can be in helping secure bright futures for Tennessee Promise students. And it doesn’t take a tremendous amount of our time. I’m happy to know there are a host of other Motlow faculty members who have volunteered, and even happier to know that some of our mentees are attending college on our four campuses. Special thanks to Jonathan Graham and the other TnAchieves leaders and representatives for the wonderful work they do.

            To learn more about TnAchieves, visit www.TnAchieves.org.