Why I Mentor
Oklahomans in every corner of the state are volunteering time each week to make a difference in a child's life. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has asked some of these mentors to share their experiences.
Nathan Hickman, a student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, volunteers as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.
Why is mentoring important to you?
I think every child deserves the best chance at a happy life. Giving a child the chance to succeed is very important to me and should be for society as a whole.
How or why did you become involved?
I had been wasting a lot of my time for too long and felt it was time to do something positive.
How have you personally benefited from mentoring?
I have gotten to know my little brother better and have been told that his behavior has improved since I have been meeting with him which is very rewarding for me.
Give an example of an activity you have shared with your mentee.
Our favorite activity is going to the community pool and playing water volleyball, finding diving rings, or just swimming in the deep end which he couldn't do when I first took him but now is an expert.