Megan Bowling & Darci Meiners |
While all the Xavier students we have worked with through the years have
been fabulous, this month’s featured story focuses on two students that I would
term the ultimate Dynamic Duo. Megan
Bowling and Darci Meiners joined our FwP team last year when they volunteered
as mentors for our ZooMates program.
Last summer, Megan continued her work with us as a teaching assistant
with our Yellow Bus Summer Camp.
To my complete joy and excitement, they approached me this fall and
stated they wanted to continue their work with FwP by taking on more of a
leadership role in this year’s ZooMates program. Their passion, creativity and
dedication to this year’s mentoring program is evident each week as they work
to provide support for the 2013-14 ZooMates mentors, create fun campus
encounters for our mentees and host our Xavier ZooMatesFacebook page. Such efforts are
truly making this year’s program our best year ever!
We asked our dynamic duo some questions about their experience so far with ZooMates and Faces without Places, and their answers were both inspirational and eloquent.
What do you enjoy about what FwP does? Why do you think it is important?
Megan – I love that FwP is
actively trying to change the way people view homelessness, and raise awareness
that Cincinnati has a homeless population that needs help, and the children
especially need extra assistance. I think it's important to get this
information out to everyone because I want to see these kids at a disadvantage
rise above their unfortunate situations and be able to follow their dreams and
see a bright future ahead of them.
Darci - I like the mission of Faces without Places as it
aligns a lot with how I approach education. Through my career choice as an
educator, I want to make sure that children, no matter their age, family life,
past, whatever, are given every opportunity to succeed. They have huge
aspirations for themselves; all we need to do is give them the means to get
there.
What is a moment that has made you proud to volunteer with/support
FwP?
Megan - Over the summer,
seeing the kids day after day change and mature right in front of me was
mind-blowing. Kids opened up to me and changed my life, which I was not
expecting. You come into a program like this thinking you are going to change
and influence the kids' lives, but they tend to change yours as well. They have
taught me to love deeper, be patient, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Darci - I am
frequently proud to volunteer with Faces without Places. Getting the
opportunity to work with such passionate people as Shelley, Greta, and Megan,
all of whom are willing to do anything for these awesome kids, is really
uplifting. The mentors, as well, truly care about their mentees. It is really
refreshing to work with other people that see the value in young people as well
as education. I was especially proud when the ZooMates came to Xavier in
November and did chemistry experiments with my chemistry professor, Dr.
Mullins. They were very curious and asked oodles of questions. I was happy to
see my love for science wear off on them just a little.
What do you look forward to in your future with FwP?
Megan - I look forward to
continue volunteering with the program as much as I can although I will be
graduating from Xavier next year. I hope to always be a part of the FwP family,
and see the non-profit gain more recognition and change society one little step
at a time!
Darci - I hope that people continue to
see the value in the ZooMates program that I have fallen in love with over the
past year. I would like to continue to foster that relationship as well as
spread the word to other college students that mentoring is an amazing,
worthwhile thing to do. Working with ZooMates through FwP is a fun opportunity
to impact the lives of grade school students who are from all different
backgrounds but who are all in need of positive people in their lives. They
don’t ask for much, simply someone to talk to, explore the Cincinnati Zoo with
them occasionally, and just have a good time. I look forward to the bright
futures of these amazing students. I would love for ZooMates to have had such
an impact on them so as for them to want to mentor when they are older thanks
to a positive experience through ZooMates.
As you can see, these two young women are insightful, caring and
enthusiastic. We are so thankful to have
them with us and look forward to their continued growth as they find their own
future successes and continue to help children and adults realize their
potential in both academics and in helping others.
Thanks for reading,
Shelley Werner.
Program & Outreach Manager.
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