Technical/
Adolescent Human
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Testimonial Letters
Testimonial letters from Mentors |
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| “What an incredible experience the last 3 years has been! I have learned so much about the issue of teen pregnancy, about the process of coordinating a project like this, about mentoring, and about myself. It has been great to watch the young moms endure pregnancy and blossom into responsible, caring mothers. I've really enjoyed developing a relationship with both the young moms and the mentors. I'll take away from this experience memories and knowledge that will stay with me forever.” |  |
| “Resource Mothers has been one of the most rewarding volunteer programs I have ever been involved in. It has been a fun, educational, challenging and rewarding experience over the two years I've been a mentor with the program. One of the most important things for me has been the wonderful (I feel lifelong) friendship I have developed with my mentee. It has been very fulfilling for me to watch her development from a young, pretty, scared, pregnant teen to a young mother, very dedicated and knowledgeable. She has done what she had to do through some pretty difficult situations. She has just finished her sophomore year at college and wants to do something in special education. Being a mother, a student and a part-time worker is very challenging but she is determined in her goals. I have seen growth in independence and good decision making in the past two years. Susie is also very interested in being a very good mother and really knows a lot about how she wants to raise Ruth. And Ruth is a very happy, bright, engaging 2-year-old. Quite a talker, too. We have learned from each other (Susie and I) and maybe that's a little bit of what mentoring is all about.” | |
| “Resource
Mothers has been very rewarding, as a project,
for me and I am hopeful it was rewarding for
Amanda and Tiffany. Tiffany was certainly worth
our `wait' and a real joy to behold. It was joy
to me to see Amanda `grow,' acquire her own car
and make advancements in her job over several
months, besides seeing her mother instincts kick
in. We have gotten out of touch for the past few months, as both of us lead busy lives and I have started my own business which has pushed (pulled) my resources elsewhere. But I believe both Amanda and I have grown from the experience and we will keep in touch probably `forever.'” |
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“Resource
Mothers has given back to me much more than I
have given. Being involved in the life of my teen
and her child has provided a special opportunity
for developing relationships and friendships.
It's been rewarding to see my mentee mature, both
as a person and as a mother. It has been rewarding to see the support and encouragement given to these young moms. So different than 30 years ago! Thank you for the opportunity to be involved.” |
| “Thank you
for a positive life experience. It has meant a
great deal to me to be involved with the Resource
Mothers Project. My mentee and I shared a rather
unusual perspective as we are also mother and
daughter. We have grown closer because of our
involvement with the project. I have gained a new
respect for my daughter as a woman, mother and,
no less importantly, as a daughter. I have
watched her grow in ways that would not have been
possible without this experience. I am grateful
for her pregnancy, her daughter and for the
opportunity to participate in the project with
her. I have observed a similar strength of spirit in all the girls and mentors who participated. Your enthusiastic leadership and consistent support of the girls and mentors, your dedication to the project, and your willingness to carry the project to others in the state, speak volumes for your professionalism and your caring manner. Your ability to remain involved with the girls and mentors, yet keep your distance and allow the pairs to grow together must not have always been easy. I am sure there were time when, having the background of knowledge that you do, you felt it would have been easier to just step in and take charge. It is not always easy to `detach with love' but you carried it off well. What you have begun will continue, thanks not only to your ability to make others see its importance, but also to the fact that this project meets a need — pairing young mothers with women who can come together with them and accept them as intelligent, important individuals. Not to forget the meetings/parties/ activities — I know the amount of work that goes into planning. It always paid off beautifully! You brought us all together, taught us something and showed us a good time — what more could anyone ask for? Thanks!” |
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| “I have learned so much about myself from the project. I have fallen in love with commitment between mentor and mom. I wasn't aware of what I had to offer and hadn't really noticed how far I'd come in life's challenges. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a caring and beneficial project. The project not only helps the mom but the mentor as well.” |  |
| “I always knew the need was there for caring people. I searched for a while to find a project that I thought really needed me, one that I could give something of myself to. I found that in Resource Mothers. My heart breaks each time I think of the struggles that these young ladies have had to overcome. Many of them have reached their goals and for that we should be proud! Without Resource Mothers they may not have. Never again will I think that my life is so terrible — my struggles are nothing. It makes me have a warm feeling to know that the babies born to young women of Resource Mothers might “make it” because of caring mentors! How wonderful! Hopefully friendships have forged between mentors and mentees that will last a lifetime and help these young ladies thru their journey of life.” | |
Testimonial letters from Teens |
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“I joined the Resource Mothers program about two ago when I was pregnant. When I got pregnant, I was very scared and confused. I had no idea now I was gonna make it and how I was gonna get through. When I first joined the program I was optimistic, but once I went to the first meeting and got to know my mentor, I was really surprised. I really thought the program was neat and I couldn't believe how much I related to the other girls in the program. It was also unbelievable how much I related to my mentor and how much she understood, and how she had gone through so much of the same when she was my age. Well, after I got to know more about the program and my mentor, the more excited I got. I looked forward to going to the monthly meetings. Seeing and being around girls in the same situation gave me hope. It showed me that if they could make it, then I could too. It also gave me hope when I was around so many people that wanted to help me in anyway they could. I have become very close to my mentor, she is like a best friend to me. I want you to know that this program really helped me make it through. Without all of you, I couldn't have done it and I wouldn't have had my own apartment. I thank you all for all your help, love, strength, and most of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to become a stronger, better person.” |
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“When I first started, I was very pregnant and had no idea of what was going to happen next. I spoke to you at the baby fair in 1994. You talked to me — even asked me about my personal life. Then I received the best thing that could even happen to me — support! I received a mentor. With the help of a mentor I made it through the hardest moments in my life. I overcame the fear, regret, sadness and the rest of the thousand and one emotions that hit you like a brick during and after pregnancy. With the help of a mentor, I understood that the most important thing in my life would always be my children. The only way to properly care for them would be to make sure I took the time to take care of myself physically and emotionally, and group meetings help me do that.” |
For additional information, contact:
Kim Allen
Director
Center on Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy and Parenting
State Specialist, University of MO Extension
1205 University Pl., Suite 1100
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-884-0644
Fax: 573-884-4878
Email: allenki@missouri.edu
HES Extension Site Manager
exthesweb@missouri.edu
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ADA Equal Opportunity