|
Back
to main
Mentors
are Not Just for Schoolkids
January 6, 2005, Detroit Free
Press
By
DESIREE COOPER
Shawn
Smeltzer was on rocky ground with his parents,
but he never expected that he would have to go
through life without them. When he was 16, they
died within six months of each other. An only
child with no other relatives, Smeltzer found
himself alone in the world.
He'd already graduated from high school in Texas,
so he began forging a living by working four jobs:
a waiter at Denny's, a cook at a Mexican restaurant,
a telecommunications store manager and a door-to-door
salesman for an energy company.
"When
I was 20, my girlfriend and I decided to move
to Detroit," said Smeltzer, now 21. "But
when we broke up, I had nowhere to go."
He landed on the doorstep of Covenant House, a
New York-based nonprofit that opened in Detroit
in 1997 to serve homeless, runaway and other troubled
young people.
"Our
crisis center caters to 18- to 22-year-olds,"
said director Sam Joseph. "They're the ones
who are outside of state custody but who still
need support in order to succeed."
Covenant House gave Smeltzer a place to stay,
food to eat and a pathway to better himself. He
now works at Focus: HOPE during the day and attends
computer technology classes at night.
Now that he's stabilized, he'll move into Covenant
House's program that provides up to 30 young adults
with transitional housing while they learn to
juggle work, financial and educational responsibilities.
Adults need help, too
This month is National Mentoring Month. For most
people, someone to mentor is a middle or high
schooler who needs a person to steer them away
from risky behaviors. But the reality is that
young adults are also at risk of heading down
the wrong path. In 2000, the three leading causes
of death of Detroiters ages 20-24 were homicide,
accidents and suicide, according to the Detroit
Health Department.
"Many
young adults have never been parented," said
Joseph. "We're looking for mentors -- people
who have not necessarily 'made it,' but people
who have learned to survive. Someone more like
an older brother or sister to coach them."
That couldn't have been truer for Smeltzer, whose
mentor is Wayne State University medical student
Philip Rosen.
Rosen is a 22-year-old native of San Francisco.
He said he wanted to get involved with the Detroit
community and thought mentoring would be a good
way.
"Philip
helped me get into Schoolcraft College, where
I'll start in the spring for culinary arts,"
said Smeltzer. "He got me a jacket for Christmas;
I had one, but it wasn't thick enough.
"No
one can replace my parents, but I'm looking for
friends and support. That's what he is to me."
In 10 years, Smeltzer sees himself running his
own restaurant and opening a school to teach computer
skills to people who can't afford college classes.
That goal is attainable, he said, because people
have reached out to help him.
"The
thing is, I'm there for my mentor, too,"
said Smeltzer. "I've experienced things in
life that he hasn't."
Small step, big difference
No doubt, Smeltzer one day will return the favor
and become a mentor. Even though he's living in
a shelter, he already donates $24 a month to a
children's fund to support a child living in the
Philippines.
"I
don't have much, but I have something to give,"
he said. "If anyone is thinking about becoming
a mentor, go for it. You may not be able to help
with everything, but every little bit is appreciated."
If you would like to mentor a young adult, contact
Covenant House at 313-463-2014.
Contact DESIREE COOPER at 313-222-6625 or cooper@freepress.com.
Back
to top
|
