Match Spotlight
Diane & Shelby
 | Have you set any goals for the new year? If you haven’t, now is the time to do it! Setting goals is important for mentor Diane, not only in her own life, but also for her 10-year-old mentee Shelby. This past summer Diane and Shelby set 4 major goals for summer break. First was to read the 6 book series of American Girl and they would discuss the stories after completion. The second goal was to get her bedroom organized and for it to stay that way until the start of the school year. The third goal was to get exercise at least 5 days a week. And the last goal was to make healthy eating choices. What was Shelby’s reward for accomplishing these goals? Getting her own American Girl Doll and lunch at the American Girl Restaurant!
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This just one example of what this Mentor Me match has done in the past 4 years together. Diane says her initial main goal with Shelby was to spend time together and do things that would enrich her life. “I felt that we could go to the library, read books, take walks and
spend time talking as she grew from grade to grade.” Another goal of Diane’s was to provide Shelby with opportunities that might otherwise not be available to her. “The first summer we were together I enrolled her in Camp All American. Two years ago I enrolled
her in swim lessons at the “Y” and took her to the lessons. She has really progressed and is very close to swimming on her own.”
Diane says her favorite thing about Shelby is her honesty. “She always tells me the truth even if she knows I won’t like it. We always turn it into a positive and talk about how we could do things differently.” With the help of Diane and a positive “can do” attitude, Shelby has already achieved a lot in her young life. Working hard in school for good grades, learning about a healthy life-style that includes exercise and eating right, learning to swim and participating in “Girls’ On The Run.” Diane was instrumental in enrolling Shelby in the program, which helps girls with exercise and self-esteem issues. “She loved it and it was great for her. She made friends and we have enrolled in the spring session.”
Diane is a good role model and is proud of her special friend. She says by setting “minigoals” along the road of life Shelby will continue to excel and maybe go to college someday. “We talk about careers and how different jobs allow you to do different things in life. She definitely sees the potential for a different lifestyle and talks about what she wants in her future.”