MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Moultrie Junior Woman’s Club recently announced the October Mentor of the Month: Janice Parker.

As a secondary education teacher, Parker taught junior high school English and social studies and ninth grade social studies before her retirement. After retiring, she knew she wanted to continue impacting young lives and contribute to the school system, according to a press release from the club. Robert Duggan, a former Moultrian and friend, approached Parker about mentoring and encouraged her to get involved. For the past six years, Parker has been mentoring students at Funston Elementary School.

Beginning with only one student, Parker now mentors anywhere from three to four students at Funston Elementary.

“It is a blessing to be able to contribute in this way and it is so satisfying to see them learn,” says Parker when asked why she loves mentoring. She also added that she enjoys helping them learn to read and spell; noting the look on their faces when something clicks and they can the read a sentence or spell a word makes it worth it. Parker also says there is a great amount of personal satisfaction she receives from being a mentor. She loves letting the students know that she is there to be a friend to them and listen any time they need to talk.

While Parker is there to help students with any subject, she primarily focuses on helping them with reading. She has been able to witness their vocabulary expand and watch the students read more fluently, many whose first language is not English. When asked what has been her greatest accomplishment as a mentor, Parker responded, “Seeing students’ confidence levels rise and watching them become more self-assured, when before some were so shy they wouldn’t even talk.”

Parker believes there is a great need for mentors in the area, especially male mentors, the club said. She says the boys need strong male influences in their lives; they all do. Parker hopes that others will consider becoming a YMCA mentor. “If it is in your heart and something you’ve been thinking about, just do it. It is a great way to give back to your community,” Parker says.

The YMCA mentoring program is a school-based mentoring program working with more than 200 volunteers from the community. To find out more about how you can become a mentor, contact Jan Barrow, Mentoring Director, at 985-1154 or jbarrow@moultrieymca.org.