Students learning to mentor students

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Ellis
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "The known is always much more comfortable than the unknown," said Delaney Wilson, Military Child Education Coalition student initiatives trainer, as students sat around collectively formulating ideas of what makes their school special.

Four middle schools-- Eisenhower, Orange Groove, Randall, and Roland Parks-- which composed of more than three dozen students and facility members partook in the two-day Junior Student to Student (JS2S) training program at MacDill, May 20-21, 2013. While interacting in small working groups and receiving hands-on training, the students participated in more than 20 different activities.

This is the second year the MCEC has come to teach the JS2S program at MacDill. Upon a new student's arrival at a JS2S-participating school, the new student is paired up with a student mentor. While all new students will have access to a knowledgeable mentor, the program is especially useful for military children who may be subject to frequent moves throughout their sponsor's military career.

From welcoming the new student upon arrival, escorting to lunch, showing them where the classes on their schedule are located and much more, the mentor will be available as long as the student needs them, said Wilson. For some that may be a few days and for others it may be a few months.

Currently there are more than 350 JS2S programs serving locations as far as Bahrain, Germany, Italy and Japan. In Hillsborough County alone, MCEC has conducted training with eight different schools, said Nelly Richards, MacDill school liaison officer.

In addition to teaching various JS2S training classes around the globe, the MCEC conducts annual follow-ups to evaluate the program's success and receive feedback for future trainings. One recent addition to the curriculum was the Power Blanket activity. MCEC Project Specialist, Joyce Hodson, described how in recent years bullying has become a primary concern for most schools.

The Power Blanket activity exposes children to the feelings felt by many new transitioning students...vulnerability, ostracized and not accepted, said Hodson. The goal is for students to realize how they can protect one another against bullying; the blanket provided cover and security for the simulated [new] students below.

Wilson explained that from the new student's perspective everything is different, confusing and new.

"Your job is to sell your school so they know your school is just as good," said Wilson.