It’s a new year! If I’m honest, the onset of a New Year used to bring me an interesting mix of enthusiasm and anxiety. You see, I’m a sucker for a shiny new planner, a set of fine-tip pens, and big goals. I love dreaming big, setting intentions, and channeling my inner “let’s do this!” voice. But after carefully color-coding dates and margins, I’d often feel a buzzing worry. I’d feel a nagging, “Okay, but wait… is this really it? Can I actually do this?”
The last time I remember this mix of feelings so vividly was 2021. By the time 2022 rolled around, I decided to approach things differently. As I sat down with my pens and planner, I paused and asked myself, “What can I do this year to keep the enthusiasm but leave behind the buzzing worry?” That pause was transformative.
I realized that my problem wasn’t dreaming too big; it was carrying too much. I was adding and building without taking the time to leave behind the things that weren’t serving me. So I started a new practice: dream big, plan boldly, but also let go of the big blunders. I began asking myself, “What didn’t serve me well this past year? What habits slowed me down, made me small, or stood in my way? What mindsets limited me?” And then, I let those things go.
This year, I extended that practice to my kids. At ages 10, 6, and 6 (yes, I have twins), I wasn’t sure what to expect. But their reflections reminded me that children often carry deeper insights than we give them credit for. I asked them, “What did you think about yourself this past year that didn’t help you be your best?” Their answers blew me away.
Here’s what they said:
- “I’m going to stop giving up before a game is over.”
- “I’m going to stop saying no to things I might not be good at.”
- “I’m going to stop telling myself that I’m shy.”
These moments were powerful reminders of the potential children have to reflect, grow, and set intentions for themselves, especially when they receive a supportive nudge.
At Lead to Read KC, we see those moments happen every day. Our mentors, spending 30 minutes a week with their students, offer that nudge and more. Over your lunch break, you provide the encouragement, consistency, and connection that can spark a child’s confidence and help them leave limiting mindsets behind.
Did you know that students who meet regularly with mentors are:
- 55% more likely to enroll in college,
- 78% more likely to volunteer regularly, and
- 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs?
- Source: MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership
This is why mentoring matters so deeply. It’s why Lead to Read KC pours its energy into mobilizing our community to be that catalytic force in a child’s reading journey. Because mentoring is more than reading together; mentoring is empowering students to dream big, set goals, and believe in their potential.
This National Mentoring Month, I invite you to join us. Whether it’s through becoming a reading mentor, donating, or encouraging someone else to get involved, you have the power to be that nudge in a child’s life. Let’s work together to create a community of readers, dreamers, and doers – one lunch hour at a time.
Rhea Muchalla LeGrande
Executive Director
Lead to Read KC