Hi, My name is Jazmin Gonzalez, most people know me as Jaz. I've been in the program all four years of high school. With that being said, I am proud to say that I made it to MY SENIOR YEAR! I was put in the program my freshman year due to my bad attendance, which reflected on my grades. Just like every other kid, I thought Mr. Medina was punishing me by putting me into YESS. After a couple of weeks of being in the program I started to feel it really grow on me and I started to enjoy attending after school.
     I wont lie and say the program made me become a straight A student and I never missed a class after my freshman Year. I still  had some ups and downs through my years. I would start ditching again and Mr. Medina and Dez would put me in check. They even had to call my dad in once or twice more. But what I would say is, being in the program taught me to be a student. It taught me that in life we will always hit these cross roads to either choose the right way in life or go down the wrong way. Living in the community that we do it's so easy to get pulled into a bad crowed. But what I learned in YESS is that we all have choices. We make the choices on what road to take. With that being said, That's the exact reason why I wanted to become a Mentor. To guide some of the students down the right path but not force them, because at the end of the day, it will always be their decision.

My name is Manuel Banuelos, I was placed in the program last year as a mentee. Mr. Medina caught me skipping classes, and I also had bad grades. As soon as I joined YESS my grades went up. The program helped me improve in school and I now am taking courses in CEC early college. I have been looked at by 3 colleges so far. I see how this  program helps plenty other Lincoln students to be successful in school. I am now a mentor for the program and have helped plenty of kids that use to be like me. One of my mentees is Luis I am glad I was able to have him go from failing grades to passing grades. He is now a player for the ALHS basketball team. GOOD JOB LUIS!

 

Hello!

Last week was a great week here at Lincoln H.S. We are a week and a half away from finals and our Mentors and Mentees are defiantly feeling the stress. Yet, among all the stress the mentors are feeling, they are still making time to make sure their mentees are prepared for their very first High school final. We have some mentors who are going to their mentees classes and talking to teachers, as other mentors are actually driving to the mentees home to pick them up so they are not late to school.  On Tuesday, we gave our mentors a little packet containing their mentees attendance and grades. We had them go over how their attendance can reflect their grade in the classes. We also made sure mentors were checking the percentages and missing assignments in each of their mentees failing classes and coming up with a few detailed goals on how they could bring them up. We want to make sure the classes they are failing is the work they are bringing down to YESS Mentoring.

At the end, we had a group discussion about the importance of getting to class on time and staying engaged throughout the whole class time. As well as talking about staying proactive and communicating with their teachers about missed assignments or assignments, they can redo to get a higher grade.

We are now a full month into YESS and things are going great so far. Our Mentors have been doing a great job with working individually with our YESS Mentees.

We have spent some time going over organization skills and decided to bring down folders for mentees. The mentors emptied their mentees backpack out so they can start organizing their papers into folders. We also went over the importance of staying organized for each class. On Thursday we did an ice breaker. It consist of information about themselves that the mentors might have in common with them along with their goals for school.

Mr. Medina went over one thing majority of the students have in common and that’s 80219, our zip code. We all come from the same neighborhood and we should always push one another to do better than where they started.

We’ve also been working on grades. We’re starting to see them put more progress into their classes. Their 5 or more F’s are now cutting in half. Finals are creeping up faster than we Intesa pated so we are pushing them to turn in their missing assignments.  

This week will be our third week of YESS, and so far things are going fantastic. Week by week our numbers are increasing with students who are eager to get the help. We have a great number of students who are returning from last year showing the new kids what we expect from them once they enter the cafeteria.

You have read Jazmin and Noelia’s story. Now, here is a short summary on how things are going for Randi Slife this year. A mentee from last year who has now transitioned to a mentor this year.

 

 

   Hi, my Name is Randi Slife. Last year I was a mentee and it helped me out a lot. This year I have decided to be a mentor. Today I have met my mentee Marlen. I am looking forward to working with her and giving her the support she needs. My experience so far is great! I am getting to learn about her as well as telling her about myself. I’m making sure she understands that I’m here for her not only for help in academics but in life as well. I want her to have an amazing experience like I did and I can’t wait to continue this journey with her.

 

I’m Noelia Guillen, I’m a JUNIOR and i am part of YESS, I was put in YESS because of my

attendance, grades, and maybe even attitude. I was a student who was about to be kicked out

of school, a student who wouldn't care about grades, going to class or being respectful. I was a

mess. Everyone tried to help but i never wanted help i always thought it wasn't worth it. When i

saw i really needed help it felt like everyone had given up on me. That's when Medina called me

down, on my way down I already knew who he was, I already had an idea of him and what he

was going to do. There was always bad comments about him around school, students saying

“Medina got Angel kicked out” “That dude never helps” I heard all kind of bad comments never

good ones. Once i got in his office i automatically hated him, he told me to sit down and started

to show me my middle school record, my grades, my attendance, and my behavior referrals

EVERYTHING. I was bothered because i knew who i was and what kind of student i was i knew

i was the best, so i got mad and started to give attitude, that's when he said ‘’go to class’’ and

called home, while i was going to class my mom called, she wasn't happy, she started to

scream at me saying “ when are you going to change, when is the day i wont get a call from

school telling me you're not in class or that you're failing all classes that you might not graduate

on time?” Hearing that from my mom hurt me hearing those words felt like she had given up on

me too. Later that day i got home and got in a argument with my mom, that's when she told me

we have a meeting at school next week. The week passed and it was the day of the meeting i

remember everyone was there, The principal, my advisement teacher, the athletic director, my

counselor and of course Medina. They all started to tell my mom how i was doing in school, they

showed her ALL kinds of papers i felt like they were all just trying to put my mom against me,

Medina told my mom there was a program here in school that could help, but it was going to be

based on me if i fixed my things or not they said if i didnt i was out this school, they told my mom

to sign a paper where she agrees to the contract. I didn't want to go or her to sign that paper,

but she did. The next week YESS started, i got put with Jaz, at first i didn't really like her i

thought she wasn't going to be able to help me. The weeks passed and became months my

grades were getting better, my attendance, and my attitude. I even started to try to help others

my friendship with Jaz was the best and still is, she wasn't just my mentor she was a close

friend. Jaz wouldn't just talk to me after school during YESS when she would see me in the hall

she would always ask “how are you doing?” “Did you already turn in what we did.” “Make sure to

bring down work.” She was always and still is supportive! Around February i started to do bad

again, my grades went down Medina called me down, i already knew why. I knew everything

was starting to be bad. He asked what was going on. I didn't know i just felt like i needed a

break, that day Jaz was upset. I sat down and she stared at me and all she said was, “Why?” i

didn't know what to do or say to her. I had done her dirty. She had done so much for me, i was

mad and sad with myself. I walked out and punched the wall, Jaz didn't stop me. She followed

me and just watched me then she said, “Are you done ?” i said i didn't know and that i needed a

break. I felt like it was to much i wanted to give up. She sat down on the floor with me and

started to bring up my future, she asked about my goals, sports, everything. I told her i wanted

to graduate to become a psychologist. I told her i wanted to be o the soccer team again and be

able to be on varsity again and actually be able to play. She looked at me and said, “I believe in

you and a lot of people do. Medina does and that's why he put you down here. I know you can

be capable of everything you want to do.” i cried and looked at her and promised to change to

do better and not give up. Now i'm a JUNIOR AND I'M BACK ON TRACK. My friendship with

Jaz is still one of the best, i am close to Medina and i'm a better person thanks to Medina, Jaz

and specially YESS. This is my story, my story to tell.

Good Morning YESS Staff!

This will be Lincoln’s first blog this school year! We have been working hard through the month of September with finalizing the Mentee list and recruiting this year’s Mentors! Mr. Medina has started the process of doing home visits, to give assurance to families, that they can put trust in him to watch over their son/daughter in school.  I have been lucky to go on home visits with him. The knowledge he has is unexplainable. Each household we enter is always different, but the magic and energy he brings when we step in is inspiring. Mr. Medina has already started blue slips as well, so the students are learning how to be accountable when they step in the building.

We have had Mentor Meetings for the past 3 weeks, with the short amount of mentees we have. We are fortunate that our mentors are stepping up and recruiting more for our program. We have also linked up with the future center as well with NHS to draw more kids into the program. We are amazed to have last year’s Mentees asking us if they can return to the program this year. They were a tough group but it is great we were able to connect with them.

Mr. Medina and I have decided that from here on out all blogs will be done by students. We believe it is their program so they should tell you wants going on through their eyes.

We have attached a story written by a past Mentee who has now transitioned into a Mentor. This story was sent to us by a teacher in the building who was inspired by the impact off YESS Mentoring inside of the Lincoln building.

Have a Great weekend!

 

As I was walking down the stairs, I saw Mr. Medina’s exasperated face.  I instantly knew something was wrong. “Hey Jaz get over here!”  His tone didn’t seem too good. “Noelia is failing again and I need you to pick her back up.” As soon as Mr. Medina told me she was failing her classes again, I was furious.  Thoughts were running through my head.  I was wondering where I failed as a mentor.  My job was to help her with grades, pass all her classes, but she was nowhere near that.  I spent all my Tuesdays and Thursdays after school at 2:30 in the Yess Mentoring Program to tutor kids who need help with work.

When Noelia was walking down the stairs, I had already felt her vibe and it wasn’t too good.  It seemed that she already knew what was going on and her attitude made everything much worse.  She threw her backpack on the table and sat down.  I placed my backpack down on the table and looked her right in the eyes and asked, “why?” She shrugged her shoulders and didn’t say anything.  I had this shameless feeling that I couldn’t explain.  I had failed this girl as a leader, a mentor, and as a friend.

When I was a freshman and sophomore, I was exactly like Noelia.  People viewed me as a Christian girl who ditched all her classes.  A girl that would act differently just to fit in.  People viewed Noelia as a“bad student.” She was a girl who didn’t want to go to class, who yelled at teachers, who had the worst attitude, and was the girl who nobody could control.  I had committed and dedicated myself to change this girl.

Now, Noelia is on-track to graduate.  She is now considered a junior who goes to all of her classes.  Ever since sophomore year, she has not been kicked out of any classes and loves to read.  Noelia has decided that she wants to go to college to study Psychology.  In the past three years that I have known Noelia I could really say I made a big impact on her life.  When I met her, she wanted nothing to do with me.  She didn’t care about her grades and refused to do her work.  I have learned to be patient not just with her but with myself.  I have learned that everyone progresses at his or her own time and that is okay.  I have also learned to have a connection with her.  She is not only my mentee, but she’s also a person I can count on for anything.  She has learned to be dependable and she has also learned to be patient and give everything its time.  Now that I will soon graduate, I would like for Noelia to follow in my footsteps to become a leader and help others who struggled like her.  The Yess Mentoring Program has taught me the values of leadership, commitment and friendship, not only with the mentees, but with the mentors and teachers.  Throughout my high school experience, I can say that it was not easy.  I would like to go to college and go into the medical field to become an OBGYN or a registered nurse.  I love to help people and be part of their journey.  Now that I am a senior and have seen Noelia experience the same struggles as I,  I can say until this day, she is not afraid to be different and ask for help.  I have a story to tell and I know Noelia does too.