PROFILES IN MENTORING

Abbe Meryl 

Occupation: Actress  
Years with YSF: Two-ish
Most recent school: Wilshire Crest Elementary
Favorite Movie: Annie Hall  (among about a million others) 
Favorite Book (or book recommendation): Oh Jeez...The Scarlet Letter 
Name of your favorite teacher growing up: Mr. Greenberg....he was dreamy.
Why do you mentor?: Because this is a city where "I" is a word that is used far too often.   
What was the last script you mentored? What was it about?: It was great!  It was called "The 100 Year Old Man."  A man waits 100 years to find a bride...he is tired of his singing dog, Lucky, being his only companion.  He looks high and low and travels the world.  When he comes upon some money in China, he pays for a poor woman's meal.  She is so appreciative that he realizes she is the one for him!!
Is there a moment that stands out to you in your experience as a mentor?: When one of the kids said "When I started this program, I wanted to be a doctor.  Now I want to be a director."  I apologized profusely to his parents!! 
What would you tell others about YSF?: I cannot say enough great things about YSF.  It is the most effective program I have seen to give kids the confidence they need to follow their passions - academic and otherwise.
How does YSF affect you, and how do you think it affects other mentors?: This program helps put things in perspective for me in many realms.  If I am cranky on a day that I mentor, afterward I leave with a big smile.  These kids have such brilliant ideas, and expressions, and thoughts. They aren't given a safe place to explore these ideas, so I love the program simply for providing a haven for creativity.  I have a dear friend who has mentored with me three or four times now.  She recently wrote me a beautiful card.  She started working at a teenage suicide helpline.  Her card to me said that if it hadn't been for mentoring with me at YSF, she would have never been able to make an impact on the kids whose lives she's helped.  True Story!! 
Mentoring advice or trick of the trade: I have a lot of 1st time mentors tell me they are nervous the first day, but like Arrowyn said to me when I started, there's nothing you can do thats WRONG.  Simply be yourself, and give them the undivided attention that they rarely get, and you are a hero.