[JackN]

This season was my first as a college mentor. I am very glad that I chose to do it and I really enjoyed working with all the great folks on team 1504. Being involved with these kids was a great oppurtunity and I think that it really helped me grow. Being a college freshman, I related to the high school kids very well which I think helped me work better with them. Just ten months ago I was going through AP tests, applying for college/scholarships and trying to get a date to prom. I can give insight into this that adult mentors might not be able to (except the prom one).

Having no relationship with them before joining, was very important i feel.
I know that I would not have had the same experience if I was involved with my high school teams. There are too many kids I have known for several years that I wouldn't be able to differentiate between friend and student. I have known one of the students since he was 10. I still help some of these kids out if they ask me, either on AIM or FaceBook, but I would not be able to be a true teacher and mentor to them if I was involved with them on a daily basis like I can with the students on 1504.