It can mean something as simple as a shy student trying to find one more friend or gaining self-confidence. In the long run, exposure to college students and the campus environment changes the notion that college is out of reach. Bridport teacher Betsy Synnott said that in the fall, students were given a choice whether or not to have a Middlebury College mentor. After hearing from past participants, they all chose to have one. The results of the program have been very positive.
Mentors gain as well.
Gonzalez, who has mentored for two years, said it had inspired her to add an education minor to her American literature major. Before she started, she had no interest in becoming a teacher. She began meeting twice a week with a girl who had been losing interest in school, not paying attention in class or not coming to school at all. Sometimes they worked together on homework. Gonzalez, who is dyslexic, could empathize with the girl's struggle to master her coursework.