Being a part of a mentoring organization can be a rewarding experience on either end.

Many children who had a mentor look at it as a valuable experience because they had someone to look up to and guide them in the right direction.

“Anne Riley took care of me when they took my mom away. She did a lot of stuff for me like taking me swimming and helping me with my homework,” said Kadriana Stokes, a mentee at One Million Girls empowerment organization.

Being a mentor can be a fulfilling experience as well.

“I taught them to always be their selves…and that it’s ok to try new things. A lot of things that I didn’t know coming into high school,” said Courtney Smelley, a former mentor with Link Crew.

There are many programs in and outside of schools in the Metro Detroit area and many other places that aim to serve youth and have a positive impact on their lives.

Mentoring and community outreach programs are built to help younger children with many issues and challenges that they’ll come across in life and allow them to feel like they have someone who they can come to.

Many of these children leave their mentoring programs as a much better person and having learned new things from people who they can look up to.

 

Mentors are also affected with a sense of accomplishment and success in making someone else’s life better.

Some students who now attend Michigan State University feel that the Detroit Public School District may not have prepared them adequately for their transitions to college.

Not taking extra preparation for the ACT may have been a driving factor in why they felt unprepared.

“Teachers and staff should have been more encouraging and involved for ACT test practice and preparation,” said Andrea Lambert, a former DPS student at King High School.

Some students choose to partake in ACT practice classes, however it doesn’t seem to be a part of the district’s curriculum.

“DAPCEP ACT classes helped me because you need to have a passing score on the ACT in order to get into college,” said Kenneth Williams, a former DPS student at Cass Technical High School.

The Detroit Public School District may be failing to adequately prepare students for their transitions to college, according to some former students in the district and test scores.

Students from DPS have ranked far below national averages in ACT composite scores with their score being a 15 and the national average being a 21, according to data from the Michigan Department of Education.

Some students have a sense of readiness for college upon their graduation from Detroit Public High Schools, but soon realize that they are not as prepared as their peers who received private education upon entering a university.

Zariah Claiborne woke up from a long nap after having a fun filled day or swimming and playing with her family.

Claiborne awoke hungry and crying for a bottle of milk in a hope to relieve her hunger.

Claiborne's godmother, Keneesha McLaughlin, prepared her a bottle as her mother observed and did her JRN 200 homework assignment.

Claiborne held her own bottle, which is a new task for her, as she drank the milk.

As Claiborne finished her bottle, McLaughlin assembled and attached a door jumper that she bought for Claiborne to the door entrance.


"I think I've got this thing figured out," said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin placed Claiborne in the door jumper and watched her enjoy trying to jump until she seemed to get frustrated.

"Ok," said McLaughlin. "I think it's time for god mommy's baby to get out."

A 4-month-old infant had an exciting day playing in the new swimming pool that her parents bought her. Zariah Claiborne enjoyed the warm Detroit weather and her own small swimming pool earlier today and is now up from her nap and ready to have more fun. She enjoys laughing and playing with family members and trying new activities to get her through the day.


Claiborne is a very active baby and enjoys trying new tasks set for her. No matter what she is doing, she typically has a very big smile on her face. Claiborne is being visited by her godmom, Keneesha McLaughlin, tonight and they both seem excited to see each other.


"I missed my godchild," said McLaughlin. "I haven't seen her in about two weeks."

Though it is late, Claiborne seems really energetic and ready for what is to come next.