I first came into contact with Ometz when I was 17 years old. I realized at that time that giving feels a lot better than receiving, and wanted to get involved with my community. I first started by be...

I first came into contact with Ometz when I was 17 years old. I realized at that time that giving feels a lot better than receiving, and wanted to get involved with my community. I first started by being involved in the mentoring program for three years. This allowed me to be in contact with other members of my community that I wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to meet. Since I am an only child, I have never had the experience of having a little sister, or someone to look over.

The mentoring program allowed me to connect with people a few years younger than me, to motivate them to pursue their goals despite their difficult circumstances. However, I feel as though I learned more from these kids than they learned from me. They managed busy schedules, busy home lives filled with unpredictable events and still succeeded to achieve their goals. The humility and respect with which these young people interacted with others, taking pride in their achievements without becoming boisterous, was refreshing given the rise in narcissistic traits amongst people my age.

After mentoring, I stayed with Ometz to tutor an individual with learning disabilities. Although it was challenging at first, we were able to develop a very special relationship. While tackling three languages at a Jewish day school, this child recognized he was different than his peers, but did not let it affect how he behaved, for he was still unapologetically himself. I can say that this latter experience hit close to home.

The take home message I received from Ometz is that you never only help one person when you volunteer. In helping one person, especially a young person, you help their family, and by proxy, the community at large. Paying it forward is a value I had in me but my experience with Ometz has solidified it. hide

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See how Ometz inspired David in his search for becoming a positive influence in the community through the mentorship program.

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As a student studying psychology, I was looking to find some experience in the field in order to evaluate if I am on the right path. While doing some research online, I discovered Ometz. After reading...

As a student studying psychology, I was looking to find some experience in the field in order to evaluate if I am on the right path. While doing some research online, I discovered Ometz. After reading about the organization on the website, I immediately applied to become a volunteer. I was contacted shortly after for an interview and was lucky to be paired so quickly with a young boy who lives near me. This made the process much more convenient for me since I did not have to travel far to meet my student.

It has been over a year since I met this very special boy named Tristan. He was extremely enthusiastic about working with me which made me appreciate how much he wishes to succeed in school. I began meeting him once or twice per week at his elementary school, during class time, to give him personalized attention with his work. During our first session, I discovered his struggle in believing that he can do well in French. He had a very negative attitude towards French and kept on repeating the phrase “I can’t”. I immediately encouraged him to get rid of those thoughts and instead to simply try his best. I realized that he needed a lot of encouragement and from then on, I began to praise every bit of effort that I would see from him.

He has attentional difficulties, and he often gets distracted or becomes extremely fidgety. In order to deal with these issues, we take multiple breaks during our sessions in order to give him a chance to exert some nervous energy and hopefully refocus on the task. Also, I always allow him some time to draw during our meetings since he loves it so much. He is a pretty good artist! We always try to find new fun ways to engage in the task. Lately, his concentration has drastically improved and he require less breaks.

Since I began working with him, he has been showing much improvement. I see in him so much potential for success. It is so rewarding to help a child reach their goals and feel more confident with their own abilities. He looks forward to our meetings every week which shows me how much he appreciates our time together. Now, I also tutor Tristan’s younger brother. I love working with both of these boys. They always make me smile. Becoming an Academic Mentor has taught me a lot. It is at times challenging to get their full concentration on a certain task. However, this experience has taught me to find alternative fun ways to learn. Many children suffer from learning disabilities or from other mental disorders. Volunteering at Ometz has allowed me to gain insight into what it is to actually deal with such issues, and has made me realize my passion for working with children to help them succeed despite any obstacles. hide