How do you advise a student who just found out that her mother is experiencing organ failure and that she would likely be missing classes to be with her mother? Her mother is not a candidate for an organ transplant because she is an alcoholic. The student’s step-father had sexually abused her in the past, so being at her mother’s bedside was going to be even more difficult. How do you help her realize her own hopes in face of her family situation?
How do you advise a young man whose fiancé had broken off their engagement? The man went into a severe funk. He started missing work and was in danger of being fired. His career, which had gotten off to a good start, had dead-ended. How can you bring back his hope?
How do you help a student who has serious financial aid issues? He lives with his grandmother who is a compulsive gambler. He doesn’t know where his mother is. He never knew his father. He doesn’t even know how many brothers and sisters he has, although he knows there are at least 8. How do you practice hope for a better future?
How do you help a young man whose father just died unexpectedly of a heart attack? He is the oldest child in the family. His mother is inconsolable, and he has suddenly become the surrogate father and head of the family at age 19. What about his own hopes for the future?
How do you help a student whose mother refuses to sign off on her financial aid application? There is no father in her life, and her mother doesn’t think that college is right for her daughter. The student has joined the National Guard to help with college, but this only takes care of part of the her financial obligations. Her financial obligations are now ok, but she is suffering from PTSD because of an incident in her military service. How do you help her realize her hope of a college degree?
How do you help a young woman whose father just got out of jail and is fighting with her mother to renew custody with her two younger sisters? Her mother has no funds to hire an attorney. Her father has a history of violent behavior. Her hopes for her sisters are in jeopardy.
This is the life of a hope mentor. This is what they do. They may not be trained as a counselor, but they care. Their job may not be one at reaching out to those in need, but they care. They may become work down by the needs of others, but they care. Their joy in life is seeing hopes being restored.
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“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” – Margaret Mead (Anthropologist)