My mentor-tutor Courtney McSwain has been with me for over six years. It has been such a wonderful thing. Her program commitment was only one year, but she chose to stay on this long with me anyway. What a precious angel Courtney has been to my life. She’s the best mentor-tutor anyone could ever have.
Courtney has helped me learn how to read better. She brought me to the point I actually enjoy reading. She knows creative ways to make it feel less hard, and more fun. During our time together every week she helped me through creative ways and with interesting activities.
But she’s also been so much more to me than just a tutor. She’s been a mentor, a friend, a confidant, a role model, a teacher and a family member. She comes out to cheer for me at my school and community performances, is my field trip chaperone, brings me to Wright to Read picnics, holiday parties and sporting events, and even bakes with me.
I admire her so much, and want to be just like her when I grow up. Courtney is kind, and cares about serving others through volunteerism. She exudes confidence and female strength, and believes in contributing to making the world a better place. She likes fashion, just like me. She is a wonderful role model who I am proud and privileged to have in my life.
Finally, she’s like a cool aunt, and a creative, big sister, an artistic cousin, and a loving second mom. Our relationship has been so deep and so strong. I have always known how much she cares about me, through the loving, thoughtful ways she’s stayed in my life.
Having a bond like this makes it be OK that the time has come for a change. Courtney is moving out of state. While that makes me very sad, as I will miss her every day, I also know I will be OK. The tools Courtney has instilled in me make me a stronger person from whom I was when we first met. And I also know we will continue to stay in contact and Face Time over cell phones. So to Courtney I say thank you. My family and I could never find the words to adequately thank you for coming into our lives, and wonderfully changing them, the way you did. I love you Miss Courtney!
— Lucy
Wright to Read provides volunteer-based one-on-one sustained literacy tutoring and mentoring relationships to City of Alexandria elementary school children in need, and collaborates with families, schools and community partners to create a comprehensive support network that guides each child to success. Wright to Read is a member of the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership (AMP). AMP was created in 2006 to ensure that quality mentors and mentor programs are available for Alexandria's youth and young adults in need. To learn more about Wright to Read, visit www.wrighttoread.org or to learn more about AMP, visit: http://www.alexandriava.gov/Mentoring.