Focus on Progress

By: Nick, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow serving at Orono High School
This is a student I have been seeing for almost all of semester 1. He is clearly a hard-working student, involved in extracurriculars/sports; however, struggled a lot with attendance and engagement in school during September and into October. He didn't need some huge solution, he simply just needed some encouraging guidance from someone. We started meeting weekly. I told him about what things I did to be successful both in high school and college. What really clicked with him was when I told him to focus on his progress rather than an end result. Fast forward to the end of the semester he told me "This is the best position I have ever been in going into finals week." I received an email from his counselor telling me "The work you have been able to get (student) to do is amazing. He is creating good study habits, enjoying school more now, and when he isn't motivated to do something he still does it because he knows it'll be worth it." Serving this year has for sure had its ups and downs; however, hearing things like this makes me know that I am leaving an impact on my students, and encourages me to keep supporting them the best I can.