Learn more about Jim and Hannah—father and daughter and proud volunteer mentors in our MentorU program! For close to six months, Jim has dedicated his time to mentoring Evan, a student from Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs. Meanwhile, Hannah has been matched with her student, Jackie, for over a year and a half at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. Learn more about their experience as mentors below! 

What inspired you to become a volunteer mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands? 

Hannah: I work for BBBS and saw the impact of the MentorU program and wanted to contribute my time. 

Jim: I wanted to help someone grow to their full potential. 

How has being a mentor changed or enriched your life? 

Hannah: Being a mentor brings joy to my life. It further connects me to my community and I enjoy hearing all that my students has to say. 

Jim: It has helped me to better understand the challenges faced by youth today. 

How do you think mentorship contribute to building stronger communities? 

Hannah: Mentoring builds stronger communities because it connects people from different backgrounds and fosters friendship. It shows youth that their community cares about them, wants to see them succeed, and that they are there for them as they discover what they want to do/be. 

Jim: Mentoring builds strong communities by showing that we are all in this together.  

What would you tell others who are thinking of becoming a volunteer mentor? 

Hannah: Take the next step and do it! It doesn't take a special set of skills or training to be a mentor. All it takes is a person who is willing to listen, be there for, and grow with their mentee. 

Jim: The reward is worth the time. 

Thank you for being wonderful volunteer mentors, Hannah and Jim! What an awesome shared experience to have together!

Become a MentorU mentor at https://www.bbbsomaha.org/be-a-big/mentoru.html today!