A DAY IN MY LIFE AS A BLOOM SCHOLARS MENTOR: A TAKEAWAY
A year ago, as an incoming freshman, I always dreamed of being someone significant. I walked into Valparaiso University, still yet to graduate from high school, and knew that I had found my place to grow. As a first-year, first-generation college student I was ready to reach my childhood dreams and make them a reality here on campus! The only way to do that was to be a part of “Summer Bloom”. The program helped me get a head start on my academics, student life, and making memories with friends. With the program creating such an impact on my freshman year, I worked with the directors to be a mentor for the program, now identified as the Bloom Scholars Program. So, for four weeks every day, I was one of five mentors guiding 27 incoming students with a beautiful variety of backgrounds to reach one common goal.
The program is now structured far differently from when I did it. Not only were the scholars growing within themselves and each other, but they were also growing with me. We were all learning together for the same purpose. That purpose is that we will all be a better version of ourselves than when we came in. I helped them along the way in achieving their purpose by creating fun events to break the repetition of the schedule and clear them of stress for an appropriate amount of time. The program is very fast-paced and because of that, it can be very repetitive and stressful, so creating events during the weekdays helps break the reputation. An event that we had planned was going to the La Porte County Fair. I grew up in La Porte County where the fair is very significant. It was fun to take them out of the academic environment, their dorm rooms, and to a place where some of them had never been. Some of our Scholars come from Los Angeles, CA, where their fairs look much different than a small county one.
The program is also structured heavily around the importance of their academic life. The Scholars take three required classes throughout the four weeks. They take an English class to prepare them for CORE, a science class with a lab, and a math course to advance their math placement that is required for their majors. The science class is a mixture of chemistry and biology. For days the Scholars learned about the lab aspects and the safety requirements to be able to perform a chemical experiment. As a mentor, I was there for emotional and mental support. I love sharing these experiences with them, and I wanted them to know I was here and always will be.
Lastly, and my favorite role of being a mentor, every day I bond with every student more and more. At their worst and at their best, I was always here for them. I went through a lot of experiences here at Valparaiso University. All of them I am insanely grateful for, and some that I wish I had a “mentor” for. I loved growing with them, and I loved being who I always wanted in my life.
WRITTEN BY
PAYTON WOLFENBARGER
