Being a Mentor

Molly Ward
Full-time Mother

In 2006, I was still adjusting to life as a full-time mother and looking for a way to maintain contact with the outside world. Although motherhood has many rewards, its mundane and repetitive nature left me missing the intellectual challenge of working outside the home. I had worked in human resources since college and missed feeling like I could be of assistance to others. Through a family friend, I learned about the Global Give Back Circle at St. Martin’s and was matched with Josphine Kalekye. Our correspondence has been a wonderful experience and being a mentor to Josphine has changed my life.

From our first letters, I could tell that Josphine was a bright and motivated young woman. Unlike some charitable organizations where you question the recipients desire to improve their circumstances, there was no doubt in my mind Josphine had determination and a fire in her belly. Her goals to receive the best education possible and improve her quality of life were quite clear. After having lost her mother, not knowing her father and being raised by her grandparents, she has had to face difficulties beyond her young years. However, I constantly hear a voice of hope and perseverance in her written words.

Initially, our letters began with sharing our likes and dislikes, exchanging information regarding our families and sharing our goals for the future. She would ask me wonderful questions, such as, "How do you know if you have a talent?" which made me sit back and think. I felt as if I was practicing the best answers to give my own children someday. Josphine also shared with me her frustration with mathematics and I empathized with her struggle. After encouraging her to ask for extra help from her teachers, I believe she has shown improvement in this area.

We are now tackling a bigger decision, as Josphine faces her goal of obtaining a higher education. She is considering two universities and courses of study, which would take her on two divergent paths. One choice is to attend a university that focuses on agriculture and technology, while the other is a more traditional university offering a variety of study. Since the beginning of our correspondence, Josphine has shown an aptitude and love of agriculture. When not attending school, she works on her grandparents’ farm and speaks of it with a passion. Agriculture is also one of the subjects in which she receives the highest grades. However, Josphine has always written about wanting to be a lawyer. At this time, I am pressing her to tell me what she would do as a lawyer and why she finds the law so intriguing. Being a lawyer is often viewed as a noble and prestigious profession, but I am not convinced she understands the responsibilities and educational demands of a lawyer. Therefore, through our letters, we are exploring her options and I am trying to help her make the best informed decisions. It is a delicate balance between encouraging Josphine to follow her dreams, yet making a decision that is realistic and attainable. Our relationship is constantly evolving.

Josphine also keeps me in check and reminds me of my own goals. I have written her about my passion for photography and desire to return to school to study it someday. At a time when my childrens’ needs come first, Josphine often asks me about my hobby. She reminds me that I am a woman with my own aspirations, and that education is a life-long process. Josphine and I keep our eyes open to the possibilities and my life is far richer because of her.