I think in all our lives, we have a “waking up” or a moment that all of a sudden we realize the important things in life.  That moment came for me on March 17, 2003.

It started as a typical Monday.  Patrick and I were rushing to get Olivia to our friend’s house who provided daycare for us, so we could make to Pleasant Hill High School by the first period bell.  (Patrick was a guidance counselor and I an English teacher at the school).    Olivia sat in her car seat in the back seat prattling on about her next birthday, which wasn’t until June!  She was going to have everyone over for breakfast, her favorite meal of the day and we were going to have waffles and pancakes with strawberries and blueberries.  That was the last thing I remember.

As we turned off of I-5 onto Highway 58 we were struck by an on-coming truck.  The truck’s back axle had come loss and the truck was swerving out of control.  We just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Our blue Subaru Outback was totaled, with Patrick and Olivia pinned in the car.  I on the other hand, was virtually unharmed.  How does that happen?

I awoke in the hospital emergency room with a nurse pulling glass out of my face and hands.  I kept asking “Where is Patrick?”  “Where is Olivia?”, “Are they okay?”.  The hospital staff was scrambling to keep the news quiet and away from my room.  Little did I know, the entire Pleasant Hill community knew of our accident and most of my students had shown up to the hospital waiting room wanting to see me and console me.

Finally, Dr. Budke came into my room and she told me what had happened.  She was so calm, so kind, so compassionate.  I, on the other hand, was in complete shock.  My worst nightmare, most parents’ worst nightmare, had just come true.

In the swimming chaos that was going on in my head all I could do was ask: What am I going to do?

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Each year that I am a part of the public school system, I get the opportunity to witness some pretty “cool”, “teachable moments”.  This year I witnessed high school students demonstrating incredible kindness and compassion for the younger students in the Pleasant Hill School District.

Our Billy Buddies Program has been in existence for a few years now, however, due to scheduling constraints, it was difficult to find a time in the high school students’ day when they could mentor the first and second grade students.  Our Elementary School Mentor Coordinator, Susie Rexius, and the High School’s Service Learning Teacher, Pat Lebrun worked relentlessly to make the program work.  Finally, in November the Billy Buddies had their first meeting.

What an incredible meeting it was!  Seventeen high school students volunteered their time to meet with a “little buddy” once a week for 50 minutes. They just had their last meeting of the year on Monday, May 24th.

Each week, the high school students came prepared with games, activities, and arts and craft projects that engaged the younger students in ways that we adults could not do!    It was one of those “ah-ha” moments when I realized I was learning more from the students than they are from me or from the experience.

Because of this powerful experience, Billy Buddies will be offered as a class next year for high school students who have completed Pat Lebrun’s Childhood Development course.  Each student will have two “little buddies” (a first and a second graders) who they will meet with twice a week during 4th period.  It’s a win-win!  The “little buddy” will gain a big brother or sister and the high school students will have the experience of a lifetime…and three credits to boot!

For me…well, here’s another opportunity for the adults to learn from our students!  How wonderful!

Summer is  a different time for many of the mentees in our program.  It is a time for freedom, unstructured fun, and perhaps a time to open new horizons with their mentors!  Oregon has a plethora of activities in the summer that could assist a mentor in creating a rich, fulfilling relationship with his/her mentee: berry picking, climbing a mountain, playing by the river, going to the lake, county fairs, music in the park….many opportunities!

Next Wednesday, May 12th we will hold our last Mentor Workshop before we adjourn for the summer.  Join us for great food and even better conversation as we prepare to embark on a new level of our mentor/mentee relationships in the summer months.

Many windows of opportunity have opened for us at PMEF.  We have received funding to allow us to hire a new staff member at Lincoln Middle School, which will allow me to get back to the job at hand: financial stability.  We are working diligently to merge the Family Resource Centers in Pleasant Hill and South Lane, providing a new family class called Strengthening Families.  This seven-week class is designed for families with middle school age children.  The focus is how to manage conflict, set boundaries and create a loving, caring environment.  Strengthening Families will begin in Pleasant Hill on January 25th and in February in South Lane.  What a great opportunity for families.

In addition, we are tracking and evaluating our program more closely than ever before.  It’s exciting to find that the passion and efforts of our mentors is paying off.   Keep up the great work!

Yes, 2010 is an exciting time.  It’s a time for change.  It’s a time for renewal.  I am looking forward rather than behind me for the first time in a long time!