Working for their future

by Christopher Sanchez

Daily Lobo

When UNM student Cherie Nanco was a

sophomore in high school, her grades were

low, and she was on the verge of dropping

out.

Nanco's life changed when her teachers

referred her to Los Compa§eros Youth

Mentoring Program, an organization with

UNM's law school that helps guide and

tutor students in middle school and high

school.

"Before you knew it, I was applying for

college," Nanco said. "If it wasn't for the program,

I wouldn't be where I'm at today."

Nanco wanted to give back to the program,

so she became one of its mentors two

years ago. Because of her troubled background,

she has been able to help children

who were just like her, she said.

"I like working with kids and seeing their

faces when they get A's because of my tutoring,"

she said.

The program started six years ago and is

active at seven schools around Albuquerque.

It helps inspire hundreds of students

from different backgrounds to attend college,

said Alberto Belmares, program coordinator.

During the school year, each mentor

meets with about 15 students throughout

the week and helps them with homework

and other issues in their life. Nanco said

it's a lot like being a friend because the students

can say anything on their minds.

"The students are more open to me, because

they see me not as a teacher or parent,

but as a mentor," she said.

During the summer, the mentors plan

activities for the school year. Nanco, who

mentors at Truman Middle School, said

she is planning an activity that involves

students researching their heritage. Once

the research is compiled, they will print the

information on a T-shirt.

The program is benefi cial for mentors

because they learn interpersonal and leadership

skills, Belmares said.

"Skills like learning how to hold meetings,

how to deal with parents - they're all

transferable," he said.

The program allows mentors to work

around their class schedule, so mentoring

doesn't interfere with school, he said.

Mentors are paid from $7 to $8 an hour,

he said.

"Although we do work in schools, the job

is so multifaceted that anybody from any

fi eld can work with us and work with our

kids and gain something useful," he said.

Mentors have to be undergraduates, but

they can be majoring in any degree, he said.

Nanco, who is majoring in business administration,

said her job as a mentor is

helping her gain management skills to hold

meetings. She said she plans on staying

with the program for at least another year.

Amber Chavez, a student at Valley High

School, said the program has helped her

achieve better grades and has given her

something to do.

"It keeps me active, so I don't have time

to get in trouble," she said.

Because the mentors are young, it helps

Chavez talk to them.

"You don't feel looked down on, because

they are close in age," she said.

UNM student Marcos Chavira, an aspiring

dentist, said the job will help him with

his career choice.

"It helps with personal skills," Chavira

said. "I love it. I couldn't think of a better

job."

The most rewarding part of the job is encouraging

students to do something better

with their lives, he said.

"You can see that you really give them

hope when they feel like they are at a dead

end," Chavira said.