Once a year, a group of kids sees campus in a whole new light.
That day came Friday, as the “Day of the Mentor” event, hosted by the School of Social Work and the Baton Rouge Big Buddy program, paired children with University students and took them on a tour of campus.
Jordan Frantz, psychology sophomore, said Friday was his first time working with the Big Buddy program.
Frantz said he participated because he thought it would be interesting to work with children.
The group met and ate breakfast at the Catholic Life Center on South Acadian Thruway and filled out workbooks to get to know each other before traveling to campus, Frantz said.
Once the group arrived, it toured the School of Social Work, the Student Health Center and the Student Media offices, Frantz said.
Frantz said his little buddy’s favorite part of the tour was Mike the Tiger’s habitat because he wants to become a veterinarian.
Despite all the stops the group made on its tour of campus, Frantz said his favorite part of the day was getting to know his little buddy and being with him one-on-one.
“Getting to know him pretty much made my day,” Frantz said.
Frantz said he plans to keep in touch with his little buddy. He said he and a friend plan to take their little buddies out to play soon.
“It’s exciting,” Frantz said. “I feel like a little kid.”
Jackie Richards, social work graduate student, said it was her first time working with the program. She enjoyed bonding with her little buddy and showing her around campus.
“It’s like ‘Bring Your Buddy To Work Day,'” Richards said.
Richards’ little buddy, 13-year-old Asa, said she has been with the program since fourth grade.
Asa said she has stayed with the program because she enjoys spending time with the group.
Another little buddy, 12-year-old Alexus, said she has stayed with the program since elementary school because of everything it has done for her.
“It keeps you moving forward,” Alexus said. “It keeps you out of trouble.”
Asa said Friday was her first time meeting Richards and she had fun spending the day with her.
“She’s very nice and interesting,” Asa said.
Richards said she hopes to participate in Day of the Mentor again next year.
“Kids need good role models,” Richards said. “It’s good to get them out of their routines. It gives them a new perspective.”
Elaine Maccio, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, said the day is important because of what it means to the children.
“[The little buddies see] opportunities they might not have envisioned for themselves otherwise,” Maccio said.
Maccio said Day of the Mentor is also important to University
students who don’t have time to volunteer more frequently.
She said she was excited to get to know her little buddy.
“It’s fun meeting her, spending time with her [and] introducing her to a world a lot of 11-year-olds don’t get to see,” Maccio said.
Maccio said she would encourage anyone who’s interested in the program to participate in Day of the Mentor next year.
“Just take six hours out of a day and give it to a kid who needs it,” she said.
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]