By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer
The Baylor bubble can feel hard to escape, but for one organization, students are stepping out into the greater Waco area to serve as mentors to local students.
Baylor Buddies is a mentorship program that connects student volunteers with at-risk elementary, middle and high school students in the Waco community. Volunteers spend at least an hour a week with their buddy during the school day, doing activities like making crafts, playing games or simply talking.
“Many of these kids need someone to believe in them, to show up consistently, and remind them that they are seen, valued, and capable of achieving great things,” the organization’s website states.
Dallas junior Livia Thomas, a Baylor Buddies ambassador, said the program is unique because it connects college students with children who are more likely to face difficult situations and emphasizes the importance of building a relationship with them.
“The ‘Baylor bubble’ is a real thing, and we have so much opportunity literally right outside of it in Waco,” Thomas said. “It’s not a super impossible task to try to step outside of your comfort zone and help someone, so I think just putting ourselves out there a little bit more and experiencing these things would make us more aware.”
To prepare volunteers, every mentor undergoes a background check and participates in an orientation. Starting this year, volunteers will also participate in an awareness program designed to help them better understand the experiences of the students they mentor.
Simpsonville, South Carolina, senior Ethan Friend, also a Baylor Buddies ambassador, said the programs help bridge gaps between Baylor students and the children they mentor while helping volunteers understand the inequalities that may shape their buddies’ lives.
“They really stress the importance that your body language matters, so you want to be on your best behavior and present Baylor in a great light.”
Although mentoring can be challenging, the students involved voluntarily chose to participate in the program.
“The reality is that these kids sign up for the program, their parents sign them up, or they really want to be a part of it,” Houston senior Jaclyn Vuong, Baylor Buddies President, said. “They want someone like a role model, and I think that’s a very important distinction between you just going in and volunteering.”
Wichita, Kansas, sophomore Paisley Ghormley said she has enjoyed mentoring her buddy because it gives them both a break from the monotony of school.
“I get to be youthful with them, but I also get to watch that experience, and I think that brings such fond memories and kind of keeps the child part of my life still in the mix,” Ghormley said.
For Vuong, Thomas, Friend and Ghormley, their desire to join Baylor Buddies stemmed from a shared interest in working with children. While their reasons differ, they have each found a way to turn that interest into service.
“In high school, I was in an education class, and I went into classrooms to go shadow,” Ghormley said. “Then, this one second-grade teacher took me under her wing, so I was able to come back anytime I wanted and would help with lesson planning, and it was my favorite time of the day.”
Looking ahead to this year, Vuong said she is excited to continue building relationships between buddies and mentors while fostering a stronger community among the mentors themselves.
“One of our biggest goals is community, not just within the Waco community, but within our organization itself,” Vuong said. “We are planning a lot more meetups and events with just the mentors.”
Baylor Buddies also saw interest from prospective volunteers at Late Night, with approximately 100 students signing up to become mentors, Vuong said.
“No matter where you’re from or what your background is, you do not need to have any special skills,” Vuong said. “You are there to be a friend.”
