Ninth-grade mentorsFreshman John Matherne knows what it’s like to face new environments and situations, and to feel a little bit uneasy about how everything might turn out in the end. As a freshman, this year he moved from being in the Middle School to the Upper School, and although the adjustment wasn’t difficult, it reminded him of other times in his life, such as the start of Middle School, when change brought uncertainty.
Thankfully, John had a friend who helped him walk the path. Justin Brendel, a student in Whitefield’s Class of 2014, became John’s mentor when he was young and helped John through transitions from year-to-year. Justin inspired John to reach out and extend the same help to others.
“I wanted to do the same type of thing for current sixth graders,” said John. “I started talking to friends about the idea and it seemed to be something that they all thought was a good idea. I didn't really have to convince anyone. They all saw value in mentoring.”
John approached Upper School Principal Jason Van Bemmel with the idea of forming a 9th/6th grade mentoring group and Van Bemmel approved
“I remember what it was like to be a sixth grader. The sixth graders take exams for the first time, start playing sports at a new level, and have to learn to balance those sports with studying,” said John, “They are also changing classes for the first time and getting used to a new kind of schedule. We thought they would like to have guys who have been there and can talk about how we made it work.”
The boys meet regularly to talk about things that “sixth graders might want to know and also spend time just getting to know them.”
“Each time we meet, we spend the first few minutes just talking and then cover a topic that the mentors have chosen together and that we think will have an impact,” John said.
Lately the group of freshmen mentors has been tossing around ideas for naming the program. Possible names like “Investment” have come to the top of the list.
“We hope to ‘invest’ in the lives of the sixth graders by spending time with them, being their friends, leading by example, and staying friends with them through their transition to high school, when they will be freshman and we will be seniors.”
Ninth grade mentors include Hunter Bilotti, Jack Charles, Jared Jones, Zack Lundy, John Matherne , Joshua Orr, Jacob Pitts, Austin Pruett, Henry Sanchez, Joseph Schwartz, and Patrick Spellissy.