Wayland students mentor high school freshmen

PLAINVIEW—On one side of the gymnasium in the Wayland Baptist University student center, girls giggle as a volleyball sails over the net and hits the floor at their feet. On the court across the net, boys struggle to serve the ball, all the while laughing about their lack of coordination.

Across the gym, a line of students charge a basketball goal, dribbling madly and laughing as they rush to outshoot each other in a friendly game of knockout.

Plainview High students and their Wayland Baptist University mentors gather for a game of volleyball in the Wayne Evans Gymnasium of Wayland’s Laney Center during the first weekly group fellowship time on the campus for the mentoring partnerships. (PHOTOS/Wayland Baptist University)

From the outside looking in, the scene looks normal in the Laney Student Activities Center as students enjoy afternoon recreation together. But for the students involved, it’s much deeper than just fun and games.

Half of the students are from Wayland Baptist University, members of the Apostolos service group. The others are freshmen at Plainview High School, participants in a mentoring partnership project that is already seeing benefits even in its early stages.

“To me, there are as many benefits to the mentors as the mentees,” said Principal Lisa Kersh. “I was so impressed with the bonding that took place that first week. We do what we can, but there aren’t enough of us to go around to meet all the needs.”

Other than a “getting to know you” introductory session and one day when Wayland students joined the high schoolers for lunch in the school cafeteria, the outing at the Laney Center was the first official group encounter. But it was intended as the first of many, as the mentoring partnerships continue through the school year.

“It has been fun already to get to know (mentor) Jordan (Nelson), and he’s a funny guy,” Mark Rodriguez said, adding that he’s looking forward to more time in the program. “I thought this would be fun to meet new people and get help with homework that I don’t get. I thought it would be good to have someone to look up at my age.”

Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays Email Address Wayland senior Armando Martinez of Plainview rushes to the basket ahead of Plainview High freshman Oscar Billegas in a game of knockout.

Mentor Armando Martinez, a graduate of Plainview High, is excited about the program’s long-term nature. Martinez, a Wayland senior, has been involved in group mentoring projects at Thunderbird Elementary and other places, but the one-on-one aspect of this program interested him.

So, when Rick Shaw, his Bible teacher and the Apostolos sponsor, encouraged him to participate, he jumped at the chance.

“I’m interested in getting involved in sports with kids, and anything I can do to help them out is a good thing,” he said. “I think it’s so necessary to get to know the kids one-on-one and be able to help them out if possible.”

Pam McMahan, assistant principal for the Freshman Learning Center at Plainview High School, said she is thrilled that the program is in place. She sees many potential benefits for her students.

“That freshman year is so challenging for kids since they’ve been so isolated for the past few years,” she said. “People who haven’t been in a high school setting for years just don’t know what it’s like anymore. But these (Wayland) kids are close enough in age to them that they can relate more.”

The project started out with extensive research last spring by the fledgling Wayland group, who wanted to make an impact in the community by meeting a real need. Shaw said each member conducted a face-to-face survey with a community leader—from law enforcement officials to clergy to school district personnel, among others—and heard similar responses about the critical need in Plainview.

“Every one of them pointed to our high school kids. And who is better to help reach those kids than our Wayland students?” he said.

And that is the primary goal for the program, said WBU junior Jennifer Phillips, an Apostolos member who is one of three key leaders. In addition to offering friendship and tutoring help with homework, the mentoring partnerships have a deeper meaning to the Wayland students.

“The whole purpose of this is to help teens,” she said. “It seems like there is almost a cry from (the high school students) for support and encouragement. We want these kids to see that they are special and unique, and they can go further than high school and reach their full potential.”