Would you rather start your day calculating slope or singing, dancing, playing, and helping your peers?
Students such as senior Ada Lester-Boal choose the latter by signing up for one of South’s “Mentor” classes.
“I have wanted to participate in these classes for a while. I love being in a different environment than my usual classes,” she said.
South’s mentor classes are set up so student mentors get paired with another student who has a physical and/or developmental disability, and they navigate the class together. Throughout the school year, there are mentor classes for art, music, FACS, and P.E. This semester the only mentor classes offered are “Let’s Make Music Together” in the music department and “P.E. Mentoring” in the P.E. department. Last semester the FACS department offered “Let’s Cook Together” and the art department offered “Let’s Create Together.”
Orchestra teacher Lucy Arbini is teaching the music mentor class this semester, which is called “Let’s Make Music Together.” With this being her first year teaching the class, Arbini said she loves seeing the joy that this class brings to all students.
“It’s such a fun class and music is such a great way to start the day,” she said. “Everyone is so excited and joyful when making music, and it’s pretty relaxed.”
“Let’s Make Music Together” allows students to explore a variety of ways to make music, according to Arbini.
“We sing every day, and we do rhythms. I also let students explore instruments; they can play the string instruments, and we go next door to the band room and play on some percussion equipment. We also do ‘Just Dance’ every day,” she said.
Senior Abigail Sherry thinks mentor classes are great because they positively affect everyone involved. Sherry has a lot of experience with these classes, as she has helped with both the music and P.E. classes.
“I think [the mentor class] benefits the students we’re helping because they get to see how much people care about others who might have a disability,” Sherry said. “I also think it benefits me as a student because I get to help people and put a smile on their faces.”
Arbini also believes this class can benefit all students, but it is especially a great fit for students who are looking to go into a career in education.
“[Let’s Make Music Together] is good for any mentor students who are interested in working in education and teaching, or just working with people with special needs in the future. I just think it’s good to have the experience of how to actually teach people in those situations and work with them,” Arbini said.
In the P.E. department, the “Mentor” class is called P.E. Mentoring. Junior Abby Karl is a P.E. mentor this semester and enjoys the class because it adds some fun into her usual schedule.
“It is different from my other classes, and I enjoy that. I get to help out while also having fun,” she said.
Although these classes are available to everyone, there are some characteristics a person should have if they want to be a good mentor, according to Lester-Boal.
“A mentor should be someone who is understanding and patient. That person should be attentive to their buddy and try to connect with them, especially when their buddy isn’t really verbal,” she said.
It is very important for a mentor to be kind and compassionate, but Sherry also believes that your reason for wanting to help is just as important.
“If you want to help people who have a disability, make sure it’s something that you actually want to do, and it’s not just because you were told to do it or because you think it’s funny,” Sherry said.
According to Lester-Boal, another benefit of mentor classes is how they allow students to make connections and friendships with multiple students that they may not have met otherwise.
“I love getting to know the people in the class. Each mentor is partnered with a buddy, and you get to know that buddy for around 3-4 weeks before you get a new buddy,” she said. “It’s really fun getting to know each other and learning about each other’s hobbies and schedules.”
Karl said she has hopes that more students will continue to sign up to be mentors in the coming years, so these classes can continue to thrive.
“I think these classes are a great opportunity. If you like having a good time and helping others, then you should sign up,” she said.
