“I can't begin to tell you how much more energy I have after spending a Saturday morning with one of my mentees, or how much joy you can get out of it. Showing up and being there for someone who trusts you, respects you and relies upon you gives you energy that you didn't think you had. It's a bit like being given a gift. A kind of power-up for hitting the Saturday morning 10am bell. The world fades away for two hours and I try to be 100% present for that person.

 

I don't plan lessons. I just let them unfurl naturally. More often than not, a student will have a piece of schoolwork, a test to practise for, an interview for a Saturday job, or just a chat about a dream they have. I've helped with business plans, marketing, management tips, creative stories and algebra problems. I'm hopeless at algebra, so sometimes I get them to teach me. I try not to give answers. I don't always have them. But we discuss and we solve and we share ideas and praise and laugh quite a lot too, especially when I get it wrong.

 

Volunteering for WA Achievers Club is one of the best things I've ever done. It's very easy to find an excuse not to. I know because I had plenty. But making that space to allow something new, and something that was a little scary at first, into my life has brought great joy to me and, I'm very proud to say, great success to the young people I've worked with.”