It is amazing how so much changes in just a few years. I have known Jaime for a 2 1/2 years. We met the summer before he started high school. He was just turning 14. Now he is an upper classman and preparing for his senior year. High school is a very dynamic time with a great deal of changes taking place. They are years that a boy grows and becomes a young man. I have been able to watch this in Jaime. We spent some time last week running a few errands and found ourselves reflecting over our time so far in this mentor relationship. We realized that when we met I was roughly twice his age - but for the rest of our lives I will only be 13 years older. I have started to see him less and less like a boy and more and more as the man he is becoming. While I have seen him act goofy with his peers he transitions easily to a very mature demeanor when he is with me - the evidence of the in-between stage that he currently finds himself in. I really enjoy my time with him, and I know he does as well. We are close enough now that we can call each others bluff - we know when we are being genuine or not. He certainly knows I am not perfect but I sense his respect. We are comfortable enough that while conversation flows easily and naturally, silence isn't awkward. One of the best parts of watching him grow has been seeing his thought processes mature. While at the beginning he really didn't know what he thought about the challenges and issues in the world - religion, money, marriage, politics, etc. - he is now able to express an intelligent opinion. At the start of our friendship he would default to agreeing with me, more and more lately he is comfortable disagreeing with me. I have always made it my aim not to tell him what to think, but rather how to think - expose him to other perspectives and viewpoints than what he may hear in school, from his peers, or see on TV or facebook.
I think Jaime knows now that the things I have (materially) are the product of hard work and dedication. He seems to have done some introspective self examination and admits he has a tendency toward laziness. We have started focusing more on the future and what his plans are. He admits he may not be successful or motivated enough to pursue a college degree. We have talked about technical school, learning a trade, joining the military, etc. At the moment he plans to become a police officer. He has arrived at this choice through sound logic and reason.
At school Jaime is passing all of his classes. He enjoys being the class clown at times I think and has a tendency to get into fights - at least not back down when the opportunity presents itself. This usually results or is related to his intense loyalty to friends and a sense of justice. Overall he is a very sweet guy. Very good and loving toward children. He continues to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. I value very much that Jaime and I have a very honest and open relationship. He is comfortable enough with me to tell when he has made poor choices, lied to his parents, done things he knows I do not approve of, etc. - because I think he genuinely knows I want what is best for him and do not judge or think less of him but deeply desire to point him to the straight and narrow.
 

Great note James. You've hit on all the emotions, hills and valleys that mentors go through in the season with a mentee. Bottom line: It's a process. And we are still in process. And we all need someone who will walk with us through the mess.
 

Thanks for being that man with Jaime!!

Well done.

Andy