Fourth and fifth grade girls made tiaras and munched on snacks as women mentors listened to their thoughts and ideas and offered up their own words of wisdom.
At Willow Springs Elementary School, 14 volunteer mentors interacted with 20 girls in a Communities in Schools gathering Thursday designed specifically for girls.
Back in January, the same program sponsored a mentorship event for boys that addressed similar topics.
Setting goals, understanding and managing feelings and motivation to stay focused on school and staying safe were all part of the event, said CIS campus site manager Cinnamon Clay-Wilburn.
The classroom was decorated in pink for “Tea and Tiaras.” Mentors and mentees sat together at tables and chatted and ate. There was even tea.
After spending time together making crowns, the mentors presented small gifts and most of the women offered up words of encouragement to the group.
They talked about loving yourself, being grateful to God and family and other supporters and avoiding the pitfalls of trying to be perfect.
Several of the girls spoke to the group also, thanking the mentors and Wilburn and expressing the importance of having faith in themselves and those who care for them.
“We want them to understand that their voice matters and they have the power to make a difference in the world,” said Wilburn, explaining the purpose of the event.
Ashley Pickens, one of the volunteer mentors was impressed that her mentee was so respectful and already had specific ideas about the kind of career she hopes to pursue.
“I loved it. This was about empowering our young fifth grade girls, giving them that power to go into the world,” she said. “A lot of times they feel down and are not confident. This was just a way for us to get together and help them build confidence.”
Mentors included staff members at Willow Springs Elementary, as well as CIS staff from other schools and professional people like Pickens from outside businesses. She is an employment specialist at Work Ready Texas.
“She was very respectful,” she said of the student she was paired with. “She knows what she wants to do. She wants to be an entrepreneur. I told her, ‘Don’t let anything stand in front of your dream. You can do it.’”
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720332862497