January not only kickstarts the New Year, but also the beginning of the National Mentoring Month campaign. Since 2002, former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama have endorsed the movement to increase public awareness about the importance of mentoring, advocating for mentoring, and encouraging new mentors to volunteer. In President Obama’s recent Presidential Proclamation, he recognized that “nobody succeeds on their own: each young person’s strength and resilience is fostered by those who have taught them they can do anything they put their mind to.”

Mentors play a transformative role in young people鈥檚 lives. In reflecting on my own experiences, I cannot help but be grateful for those exceptional individuals who invested their wisdom, support and time in me. From my 5^th grade teacher who encouraged my love for learning, my 7^th grade track coach who tirelessly trained and pushed me pass the finish line, my AP English teacher who strengthened my writing skills, and my former boss in college who encouraged my passion towards the field of education. They made the difference I needed to be a better person today.

For gifted learners, mentors can help guide them through difficult formative years and help remove the barriers to advancement that schools can often create. At 优蜜视频, we are fortunate enough to have a remarkable group of staff members, instructors, fellows and counselors, and mentors who invigorate, support, and work with our community of curious, bright learners. It is because of each of you that 优蜜视频 is able to fulfill our mission to ensure that each gifted child鈥檚 specific needs are met so that they can reach their full intellectual and personal potential. So thank you to staff members and鈥�

• Academy instructors who share their passions and expertise and create nurturing learning spaces where our students can be themselves and delve into their curiosities.
• Yunasa Fellows and counselors who encourage growth and support our campers intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
• EXPLORE mentors who provide opportunities for our high schoolers to explore their interests and apply their knowledge in intellectually limitless and nurturing environments.

In the last 20 years, great strides have been made in the mentoring field; State and local leaders and leading non-profits have developed mentoring programs and activities to push the campaign forward in communities across the country. The reality is, however, that a gap still exists—鈥渙ne in three young people do not have the supportive relationships they need to grow and develop into thriving, productive and engaged adults.鈥� In many of our communities today, more young people are faced with varying levels of adversities and traumatic life experiences; it often takes just one exceptional individual who can help uplift them, unlock their potential, and give them a better chance at success.

If a mentor has positively impacted your life, pay it forward this month by contacting your mentor and expressing your gratitude, becoming a mentor in your own community, or making a contribution to a local mentoring program.

Notes

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1. What are you most passionate about in working with the gifted community?

I am probably most energized by gifted kids鈥� excitement to know and understand the world. So often, their desire to question and explore is dampened by teachers who want them to stay on task, peers who pressure them to fit in, and parents who aren鈥檛 sure how to meet their children鈥檚 insatiable need to know. It is this motivation and drive that makes the gifted so likely to shape our future 鈥� to contribute inventions, innovations, and discoveries to our world. I love the spark of curiosity I see in all the kids we work with and want to do what I can to fan that spark into a flame!

2. What is one thing you think every family with a gifted child should know?

So often parents will call or email and talk about how unique their child鈥檚 situation is 鈥� how few equal peers they have, how they present a novel challenge to their school structures, how what they deal with is unlike what they see around them. As someone who administers programs for the gifted, I can assure them: 鈥淵ou are not alone.鈥� There are others out there who have the same struggles, the same challenges, and the same wonderful gifts. What I love about Yunasa camps, and about all of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs, is that we provide the opportunity for the gifted to connect聽鈥� across the country and sometimes across the world 鈥� with others who are like them and who share their experiences, joys, and challenges. To observe the strong friendships and lasting community forged in our programs among our constituents is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

3. Why do you enjoy focusing on the program that you do?

Yunasa camps are my main focus as a Program Coordinator. All our programs are wonderful and rewarding opportunities, but I particularly enjoy working with Yunasa because of the opportunity to go to camp! I love the outdoors; that I get to go kayaking or build a Nature Sculpture with campers as a part of my job is unbelievable! I am also immensely grateful that I am able to work so closely with our Yunasa Fellows, world-renowned experts in the field of giftedness, and wise, kind, sensitive people from whom I personally have learned a great deal.

4. What鈥檚 your favorite Yunasa tradition?

Yunasa summer camps, as with most summer camps, are rich with traditions that are handed down from year to year. My favorite tradition might be the opening and closing ceremonies. The campfire, the drum beat, and the songs are the same, but the feeling is so different from the beginning of the week to the end. I love feeling how the traditions have deepened with the campers over the span of just one week!

5. What鈥檚 your favorite snack food?

I love cheese more than is probably healthy. I love a spread of cheese, crackers, fruits, and meats. It feels 鈥渇ancy鈥� but is excessively easy to put together!

6. What鈥檚 a movie you watched recently that you liked?

I recently watched 鈥淧aper Moon,鈥� which I loved. It has Ryan and Tatum O鈥橬eal, a real-life father and daughter playing a father and daughter con artist team in the movie. Tatum O鈥橬eal was the youngest actor ever to receive an Academy Award, which she won for her portrayal in this movie at age 10. It was made in 1973, is set in the Great Depression, and is funny, witty, and moving.

7. What鈥檚 one activity you enjoy doing in your free time?

I鈥檓 a voracious reader, so I spend a lot of time doing that! Since moving to Pasadena, I鈥檝e tried to take advantage of being so close to the San Rafael Hills and San Gabriel Mountains and get in a lot of hikes! I also very much enjoy exploring around Los Angeles 鈥� Chinatown, Our Lady of the Angels cathedral, Little Tokyo, Olvera St. Taking the metro around L.A. and finding new places to explore and cultural opportunities to benefit from make me glad to live in such a vibrant city! Recently, I took up the ukulele 鈥� though I鈥檓 far from proficient, it鈥檚 come in handy for a sing-along or two. Sadly, I don鈥檛 think it will fit in my carry-on for camp!

There are still a few spots left for this summer鈥檚 and camps. Apply today to join Amy and the Yunasa Fellows in Colorado or Michigan!

Have your kids been to Yunasa or a camp that allowed them to connect with other kids like them? Please share your experience in the comment section below!

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