So few of us have extra money hanging around to help out people, but so few of us do not have extra time. Several years ago, I was itching to give some of my time to a worthy cause and volunteer for an organization that I could apply my skills and enjoy, as well as help out the cause. I came across Capital Partners for Education (CPE) and signed right up to be a mentor. The organization is incredibly professional and well-run with remarkable results. They focus on under-served children who would like to go to a private school and be on a fast-track to college enrollment. Their success rate is a phenomenal 99-100% of college enrollment and college retention rate. The program couples private high school scholarships with college prep courses and an adult mentor. This is where you come in.
I've been a mentor to the same girl for three years now. What I loved about CPE was their honest efforts to pair me up with someone who they thought I would get along with (and vice-versa), and they were right on the money. It's an incredibly fulfilling experience to share your life with a teenager who comes from a completely different perspective than you do, and DC affords the best playground for this. Museums, free film festivals, cultural events galore, great restaurants... you will never be lacking things to do with your mentee and ways to help shape their own growing world-view!
So get off your butt and give some time to someone who will appreciate it and learn from it - and you'll be surprised at how much you, too, will get out of it! read more