SMARTS

Talents: Past Events

Mentors Motivate Younger Students to Succeed

SMARTS Mentoring Program Forges New Pathways to Success

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On December 9th, 2006, a group of elementary school students with learning and attention differences arrived at Lanes and Games Bowling Alley, enthusiastic to seek-out their “buddies” amongst a gathering of junior high, high school and post-college students who came together for one of the SMARTS Mentoring Program’s monthly social events.

SMARTS is a unique mentoring program that is growing a supportive community for younger and older students with learning and attention differences. SMARTS coordinator Matt Upton explained, “The most important part of the program’s mission is to bring together students across different age groups to discover what they are capable of achieving as they are empowered to change lives.”

Dr. Lynn Meltzer explained that SMARTS is not just about having good self-esteem. Rather, the program revolves around fusing internationally renowned research on strategic learning with peer mentoring concepts that promote self-awareness and understanding amongst individuals with learning and attention differences, who will help each other achieve life success.

Allie Lerner, Kayla Masterman and Matt Barrie, ResearchILD Student Leadership Council members who helped to found SMARTS, recently gave inspiring speeches at an annual benefit. Allie described to the audience her motivation for become a mentor: “In looking back, I know I would have really liked help from someone, who was just a bit older than me, who had experienced the same problems in school…Now I know I can be that someone for my mentee.”

Kayla reflected on the Student Leadership Council’s initial goals – ones that are being met today. She recalled, “We formed a POWERFUL group…We set out to plan an event that would introduce younger kids to us, and to the idea that having a learning difference was O.K., NOT something to be ashamed of.” She was surprised to find that the mentoring program has impacted the mentors just as much as their mentees. Kayla is extremely proud of what she and her SMARTS colleagues have been able to accomplish.

Matt explained that he has struggled with dyslexia throughout his life, and like Allie he often wished he had someone outside of his family to discuss his learning difference with. He now has the chance to serve as a friend and role model for an eleven-year-old boy. He told the audience, “Being a mentor is a privilege. It is great to be able to talk to these younger students and tell them that they can succeed and to believe in themselves.”

SMARTS’ latest phase of expansion is being kicked-off by a new mentor training program on February 7th. Matt Upton stated, “Our long term goal is to identify allies in local school districts and universities who share our mission and want to collaborate with us.”

Through the work of ResearchILD co-founder Dr. Lynn Meltzer and program coordinator Matt Upton, SMARTS has quickly expanded to currently include over 12 mentor and mentee pairs. Recent monthly SMARTS events have been planned by active Student Leadership Council members Colin Meltzer, Allie Lerner, Kayla Masterman, Matt Barrie, Lily Corman-Penzel, Sarah Troutman and Billy Warren. Parent volunteers Andrea Masterman, Karen Economopoulos, Jane Adams and Kalyani Krishnan have been instrumental in seeking funding and facilitating the group activities that have strengthened the relationships between mentors and mentees.

The Different Types of SMARTS Fair

The Different Types of SMARTS Fair, held at ResearchILD on June 4th, 2006, helped over 50 students understand their learning differences and many strengths.This outstanding event was organized by ResearchILD’s newly formed Student Leadership Committee, made up of high school, college and post-college students. The fair empowered these youth with a sense of independence and accomplishment as they helped younger students participate in a variety of hands-on educational activities. Allie, a member of the Student Leadership Committee, commented enthusiastically, “I learned that a group of kids could pull off something so successful without adult help.” The Different Types of SMARTS Fair was a kick-off event for the SMARTS Mentoring Program. The Student Leadership Commitee is now working to advise mentors and plan future SMARTS events.