Post 2: Hope is a Discipline: Practicing Resilience in Mentorship
Mentorship is a powerful tool for guiding people through challenges and helping them discover their potential. The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance proudly supports initiatives across the Equality State that foster meaningful connections between adults and youth.
One example is the Alliance’s Summer STEM Fellowship, which empowers Wyoming undergraduates to serve as role models. In August 2024, the Fellowship celebrated its second cohort. Jamaal Williams of PEAR led a key workshop at the culminating event and his passion for mentorship left a lasting impact on the Fellows.
Jamaal shared his personal motto: “Hope is a discipline.” He explained that hope isn’t passive—it’s something we practice daily. This philosophy resonated with the Fellows, who realized that mentorship, like hope, requires consistency and persistence. By embodying this discipline, mentors can help young people build resilience and optimism, especially when they face challenges.
Out-of-school time programs offer a unique space for these relationships to flourish. By providing hands-on learning experiences, they help youth develop critical skills like teamwork, leadership, and communication. These skills are vital for success in today’s workforce, and OST programs play a critical role in preparing the next generation.
STEM Fellow Abby Casey reflected on the idea of brokering hope with the youth who particpated in her program. She said, “I know that the teachers that impacted me the most were the ones who made me feel special. They took time to check on me and made sure that I was okay and excelling. I want to be able to be that person for another child.”
During their time in Laramie during the Fellowship wrap up event, the Alliance team happened upon the Stan Lee exhibit at the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center. Jamaal reflected on the influence of mentors like Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben. “With great power comes great responsibility” is more than just a comic book line—it’s a guiding principle in mentorship. Like Uncle Ben, mentors help youth understand how to use their potential for good.
The Alliance continues to support mentorship through the Summer STEM Fellowship and beyond. We tip our hats to programs across the state that exemplify the spirit of mentorship, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming, Boys & Girls Clubs, Wyoming 4-H, Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming, Innovation Wyrskhop, Girls Actively Participating (GAP!) in Jackson, and Maker Space 307 in Riverton. Hope is not just a feeling but a discipline that transforms lives.
