The Odyssey follows Odysseus, hero of the Trojan War, in his 10-year struggle to return home after a decade of fighting. But his journey is not the only one Homer relates. The epic also details the coming of age of Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, who has grown up in his father’s absence and yearns to be worthy of his legacy.
Telemachus is guided toward manhood by a family friend, Mentor. Hand-picked by Odysseus to protect his son, Mentor provides such faithful counsel that the goddess Athena, Odysseus’ stalwart supporter, takes the old man’s form and accompanies Telemachus as he travels the realm to uncover his father’s fate.
While most young people today will not undertake such a perilous journey, there is nevertheless a place in their lives for such a trusted figure. Here, we profile three mentors who help local youth learn, grow and lead.
From the stage to the world
John Paul Middlesworth, 52, knows a thing or two about character development. As drama teacher at Chapel Hill’s St. Thomas More School and director of the youth troupe Act One Act Now, Middlesworth has explored the motivations and aspirations of many stage personas. He’s also played a part in helping his students navigate that other stage: life.
“Theatrical participation is one of the best ways for young people to develop,” he says. “They develop a set of friends, social skills, abilities to present themselves to the world, and abilities to observe the world. And there’s a certain safety to it all because it happens in a playful environment.”
Key to Middlesworth’s approach is his determination to find a role for every child who’s interested in participating. At St. Thomas More, he recalls, that policy gave a particularly withdrawn student the opportunity to get excited about doing something with his peers. Although his part was small, he blossomed within the cast’s camaraderie and shared purpose.
“I was proud of his having that opportunity to participate,” Middlesworth says. “In other programs he might not have been given a part at all.”
Another distinction: the teen actors in Act One Act Now, which puts on multiple productions each year, get to sink their teeth into meaty roles.
“I want to offer plays that other youth theater groups don’t typically present. For instance, we presented The Importance of Being Earnest last year, as well as the absurdist comedy The Bald Soprano,” he says.
Such opportunities resonate with teens whose interest in theater is strong. But Joseph Garcia of Chapel Hill, whose daughter Olivia, 14, is in the troupe, says their impact goes beyond the stage.
“The thing that Olivia appreciates the most about John Paul is that he treats them as actors first and teenagers second,” he explains. “John Paul will take a small role if there’s a gap in the cast. He says to the teens that they are equals in a company of actors.”
Finding the player – and person – within
Like Middlesworth, Bridge II Sports’ Fiona Allen uses teamwork and shared goals to foster growth in young people. As coach of numerous adaptive sports teams over the last four years – including hand cycling, boccia ball, and, currently, the Jr. Thunder wheelchair basketball team – Allen, 27, cites her own experiences as inspiration for her work.
“Sports gave me leadership skills, and I think everyone should have that opportunity,” she says. “I’m fortunate to be in a position to help make that happen.”
Through Durham’s Bridge II Sports, kids 5 and up with physical disabilities that prevent them from participating in able-bodied programs set goals, learn about teamwork and see first-hand, Allen says, “that while disability is a part of who they are, it does not define them.”
“We have a lot of kids come in angry, whether it’s because they have a disability or because they don’t fit in at school or other things,” she says. Playing a sport allows them to channel their emotions in a positive way and provides them with positive role models, some of whom also have disabilities. “Some players may become Paralympians, but all of them take lessons from their participation in sports into their real-life experiences,” she says.
Rebecca Tillman of Chapel Hill, whose son Mason, 9, plays on the Jr. Thunder team, has seen how sports, and a supportive coach, can transform a child.
“Mason had never played or sat in a wheelchair before meeting Fiona,” she says of her son, who has a neuro-degenerative disorder that affects his motor skills. “I never thought I would see him so confident during a basketball tournament. Fiona always makes him feel sure of himself…. She truly and wholeheartedly believes in the kids she works with.” Allen encourages her players to believe in one another, too.
“We try to put older team members in leadership roles,” she says, “to share experiences and guidance with younger kids who may be struggling with bullying or other challenges. We see them make strong friendships that go beyond the team.”
Leadership development
Building such relationships is what Whitney Kahn does best. As senior program director at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA, Kahn brought fathers and their children together through Y Guides and Princesses. Today, as associate director of the Meadowmont location, she mentors young people through Leaders’ Club, part of a national program that focuses on leadership, service and physical fitness.
Over the 10 years Kahn has helmed the club, “we’ve seen it grow from a basement room in the Y to around 150 participants,” she says. “Members volunteer for 100- plus hours each year, making a large impact on the community.”
With rigorous requirements for participants, the bar is set high. When members come up short – and they occasionally do – Kahn, 36, is there to help them get back up. She recalls a member who failed a required fitness test at the annual Blue Ridge Leadership Summit. While disappointed, the teen fell back on the club’s emphasis on perseverance and worked hard to pass the next time.
Kahn notes that, over the years, eight club members have been selected by fellow attendees at the summit to lead future events. “That says a lot about our club and our commitment to teens,” she says. “Members work very hard and make huge strides to become outstanding leaders.”
The program’s success is due in no small part to Kahn’s commitment.
“Whitney is so dedicated to all of the young people she interacts with,” says Melissa Burroughs, 21, a former club member. “She is willing to donate incredible amounts of her own time, going on trips to leadership retreats and group activities, attending events and having conversations with you pretty much anytime you drop by her offi ce and need a friendly face.”
“I have a lot of passion for these kids,” Kahn says. “They know someone is there for them, pushing them and supporting them. My hope is that each one will gain something from their participation, whether it’s interpersonal skills, leadership skills, spirituality, fitness or confidence.”
