If you know me, then you know I love my community. I have lived in or near Westfield, MA my entire life and I am proud to call it my home.
I was raised with the understanding that if you love something, it is your job and responsibility to care for and nurture that thing. My mother instilled this in me and I carry it in my heart daily. Sometimes they are people, sometimes they are pets, and sometimes they are cherished heirlooms, but in this case, they are the community. Bear with me for a moment while I share some of what I have done, but stay with me for the opportunity that makes my heart sing.
Quick boring history
Briefly, I do a lot of volunteer work in my community. I was on the board of directors for the Friends of Grandmother’s Garden in the 90s and early 2000s when we went on a major fundraising project and tore apart and rebuilt this sanctuary in the heart of the city. I have run a project called “Blessing Bags for the Homeless” for years in Westfield. I have been on the board of directors for the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center for over eight years and I am the immediate past president of the Kiwanis Club of Westfield, I am a member of the Elks and I have recently been appointed to the Alumni committee at Westfield State University. All of these organizations and projects hold a special place in my heart, but the one that means the most to me began about three years ago.
This is the good part
Three years ago I discovered that the Westfield Public Schools were looking for mentors for their students. The children that are in the program come from any number of backgrounds, but their teachers and administration have noticed that they would benefit from a relationship with an adult who can be a part of their lives in a regular capacity. As soon as I saw this, I knew I wanted to become involved. I spent my entire life at a dance studio, many of those years as an instructor and I love children. My own children were mostly grown and I missed having younger children in my life.
Flashback to three years ago when I got my first assignment. I will call her Callie for the purposes of this story. Callie was a second-grade student who needed some help with focusing. She was assigned to me because she loved to dance. We bonded over my large collection of children’s dance stories and I taught her some of the moves. Callie flourished under a watchful eye and took to me right off the bat. Her energy was infectious and she was quick for a hug. As it turned out, Callie’s mom couldn’t afford to send her to dance class, so Callie was just doing her own thing. I was able to facilitate a scholarship and secure donations of dance apparel to give to Callie’s mom who then gave it to Callie for Christmas. Hearing her tales of dance class each week became a favorite moment of mine.
Callie is now a fourth-grade student at a new school and I have been able to follow her there and continue to see her weekly. She loves to sing and dance for me and we spend our time otherwise doing art, games, and chatting. She never fails to greet me with a hug and I never leave in a bad mood.
The elementary school that Callie was originally at contacted me a year after I started and shared that they had another high-energy student that they would like to pair with me. How could I say no? Enter my sparkle girl, Ky (also not her real name). Ky was a second-grade student who moved like she was built of bubbles. She is sunshine and rainbows personified and she grabs your interest from the start. I quickly learned that Ky was wise beyond her years. She came from a large family who fell on hard times, but you would never know it to look at her. I only knew from what she was willing to share with me.
Ky loves coloring, games, and crafts and throughout whatever we do she is singing. During our first year together, I had to miss some of our appointments because my mother was in and out of the hospital and eventually passed. Ky wrote me a homemade sympathy card that shared sentiments that were wise beyond her years. That note along with another (I will share in a moment) lives on my refrigerator. I am now in my second year with Ky, a big girl third-grade student now, and our bond continues to grow.
Each week when I arrive at these girl’s respective schools the administration shares with me that my student has been asking after me and checking in to see when they will see me. Each week when I arrive I am met with a beautiful young person running up to me with a full-on blast hug and a cry, “Miss Lesley! I missed you!”. We spend our time doing things that don’t seem important, but while we are doing them I am asking questions and giving support, I am teaching manners and patience, I am checking in on their classroom behavior and encouraging them to do their best, I am teaching them that it doesn’t matter who wins the game as long as you are playing it with someone you love and having fun and most of all, I hope I am teaching them that they can count on someone in their lives.
It is no exaggeration when I share that being a mentor has changed my life. I spend one hour a week volunteering my time, but the gift I get back will last me my entire lifetime. These children have made a mark on my heart that cannot be taken away. I hope I get to participate in their lives for a good long while.
Treasured for life
OK, so here is the second note from Ky that I mentioned. It is a thank you note that she asked the front office to send me at the end of last year’s school year:
“Dear Mrs. Lesley, Thank you for being here for me and supporting me.
I am happy that you came into my life. Love, Ky”
If you are inspired to join this lovely mission and live in Westfield, MA please email vips@schoolsofwestfield.org to get started. If you live elsewhere, contact your district office and ask how to get involved, you won’t regret it!
