By Melanie Eiges

Senior Ellen Kim has created a unique opportunity for freshman students who are looking for assistance in their academic lives.

At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, Ellen went to her counselor Cheryl Youngberg with the idea of creating a program that would encourage students to do better in school.
With the help of Cal counselor Patricia O’ Malley, Ellen created the Peer Mentoring Program.
“I thought it sounded good so I got involved,” said senior Elaine McVay, one of the current mentors. “This program is helping students be successful.”
The goal of the program is to further serve our school and community with the mentors’ passion: learning. The 11 mentors are primarily seniors who value knowledge and understand the importance of sharing this knowledge with others in a personal and effective way.
“This is beyond homework,” said Elaine. “You really know the person, the one on one tutoring helps you work with them better.”
To find freshman to participate in the program, O’Malley sent out a letter to the families of all incoming freshman.
Parents then responded to the letter and out of those who responded, students who fit the qualifications for the program were put on a final list. Out of those students, 11 were chosen to be matched with a mentor.
“The best part of the program is that it’s tailored to meet the student’s needs,” said Elaine.
The mentor and student set long and short-term goals and meet two or three times a week during tutorial, brunch or lunch.
“The mentor will decide the outline for each student and work on any subject or study skill the student asks for,” said Ellen. “He/she will in turn observe the student and add anything else they see will improve the student’s progress and help the student integrate and apply the information.”
Mentors help their students in all classes that are given at Cal, but the main subjects are foreign languages, mathematics, and sciences.
“I’m working with my student on math and English,” said Elaine. “He’s motivated and definitely improving.”
If the mentor and student are not compatible for a class subject, another mentor will be brought in for that student. For example, if the student is taking French but the mentor assigned to that student is taking Spanish, a different mentor who takes French will replace the Spanish-speaking mentor.
“The students’ grades have improved so much,” O’Malley said. “But more importantly, their interest in school has increased.”
The program is always looking for new mentors to join the team. For more information on the peer mentoring program or to get involved in the future as a mentor, contact Patricia O’ Malley at [email protected] or visit her in the counseling office.