Yolanda Childs
Yolanda Childs, an adjunct professor in Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU’s) Department of Political Science, Arthur Hardin, WSSU coordinator of community service, and Rudy Anderson, communications project manager in the WSSU Office of Marketing and Communications, spend an hour each week in a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County high school mentoring students in danger of not graduating.
“My job is to mirror back to this young man a different reflection of what he is,” explains Arthur Hardin, who mentors a 9th grader at Carver High School. “I help him see his potential and to think long term about the possibilities his future holds.”
Yolanda, Arthur and Rudy participate in programs managed by Graduate. It pays., a collaborative of over thirty organizations in our community, including Winston-Salem State University, that have come together to create a common plan of action to reduce the number of students who drop out of local high schools.
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches community-volunteer caring adults with repeating 9th graders and the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce through their Senior Academy matches community-volunteer caring adults with 12th graders.
In each program, the volunteer caring adult commits to spend one hour each week with the student at the high school during the school day. The volunteer commits for one school year, beginning in October or November.
Arthur Hardin
“My primary role is motivator. I especially like working with students that others may have given up on,” says Yolanda. She was a single teenage mother and graduated despite those who discouraged her, so Yolanda has a special place in her heart for struggling students. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school; her two older siblings dropped out.
Caring Adults do not tutor students. If the student requires academic help, the guidance staff will make those connections. Rather, Caring Adults listen with open hearts and minds, help the student to create a positive vision for their future and make good decisions, celebrate the student’s successes and encourage them through setbacks or disappointments.
Rudy’s 12th grader, a shy young man who transferred to Carver High School this year, has opened up as their relationship has grown.
“Being consistent, showing up every week helps develop trust,” Rudy shares. “Just knowing that I care really makes a difference to him.”
Arthur had concerns about his ability to relate to a 9th grader but says Big Brothers Big Sisters did a wonderful job of matching him with his student. Arthur officiates high school basketball and football, and his student has played football. These common experiences gave them a comfortable place to start.
Both Yolanda’s and Rudy’s students want to go to college. Since the parents of most of the students in the Senior Academy did not attend a college or university, the Caring Adult can be especially helpful in guiding the student through the process of registering for SATs and applying to colleges.
Sheryll Strode, volunteer leader for Graduate. It pays., says that the caring adult programs are working. Nine out of 10 of the students matched with a caring adult to date have successfully advanced to the next grade or graduated. The number of students matched has grown from 50 in the 2007/2008 school year to 222 this year.
Rudy Anderson
Graduate. It pays. and the students benefit from Winston-Salem State University in another important way, according to Sheryll. Communities in Schools matches college students majoring in psychology, social work and rehabilitation counseling with 10th and 11th graders who have failed two or more core classes. Winston-Salem State University students have filled most of these intern Graduation Coach positions serving over 200 high school students in the past three years.
Next year Graduate. It pays. plans to match 390 students and will need 200 volunteers to work with 9th and 12th graders. Volunteers will work with students at Atkins, Carver, North, Reynolds, East and Glenn High Schools.
“I consider it a privilege to work with these students and plan to continue my involvement in the Senior Academy,” says Yolanda. “I wish we had more adults because the need is great.”
Rudy adds, “We are making a difference, one child at a time.”
“Some of these students don’t dream. How can they dream if they don’t even realize the possibilities? We help them dream,” states Arthur.
For more information or to volunteer please go to www.graduateitpays.org
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