Firsthand experience taught Undrey Bostic he could benefit from the positive presence of a strong confidant who wanted to help him achieve his goals. Today, he strives to make a difference in the lives of area youth by serving with Newton Mentoring Inc.
Just like the current hurricane season, life can be a stormy affair. To help navigate those turbulent waters, we have people in our lives to whom we can reach out for support and guidance. Those relationships are resources we build over the course of many years.
Children, however, frequently have not made such connections. Maybe their family is going through a difficult time. Perhaps their classmates at school are not exactly following the “straight and narrow.” Everyone is familiar with the “kids are our future” platitude, and while it is repeated frequently, the notion does express a deep truth. If children are not learning healthy lifestyles and skills, then they are not likely to be successful and our communities will suffer as a result.
Enter Undrey Bostic. He is part of the solution to build better, stronger communities for the future. Undrey serves as a mentor for Newton Mentoring Inc.—a grassroots nonprofit set up in 2008 by the late Judge Horace Johnson Jr. NMI’s mission is “to build and strengthen the character and competence of children and youth, which will help build their leadership abilities, thus, their ability to succeed during their school years and beyond. NMI’s vision is to change the community, one child at a time.”
Bostic is one of the volunteers helping NMI accomplish its goals of building a better Newton County. Every week, he touches base with a high school student named Khalil. Bostic sees his role as a mentor as someone who is outside of the family who can offer advice and perspective.
“By helping someone else, I have a fresh viewpoint. I’m reminded that it’s not all about me.”
Undrey Bostic
“Sometimes, kids aren’t willing to talk about sensitive topics with their parents, so it’s important for them to have another adult that they can turn to,” he said. “They might have gotten in trouble and need advice, or they might have personal problems that they need help sorting out.”
NMI provides Bostic with an opportunity to meet those types of needs and to be an available source of advice, as well as companionship. Ruth Banks, the program coordinator at NMI, raves about Bostic’s contributions.
“He is dedicated and trustworthy,” Banks said. “Undrey understands the importance of spending quality time with young people and lending them a listening ear.” She believes volunteers like Bostic make a difference in the lives of those they mentor. Originally, he started with two young boys who were entering seventh grade. Khalil is now in 10th grade, and although Bostic’s other mentee moved out of state, he still maintains a relationship with him. “Mentoring isn’t just for at-risk youth, although it is a powerful antidote for kids in that circumstance,” he said. “Really, mentoring serves to prevent youth from falling into at-risk situations.”
Bostic had his own mentor in his 20s. The man was a friend of his father’s and a well-known pastor in the area. Bostic points out that even though his father was present in the home, a mentor was still an important part of his early formation as an adult.
“I could have conversations with this man that I struggled to discuss with my parents,” he said. “He provided an additional resource for advice and counsel, as well as serving as a role model.” For Bostic, work as a mentor was a natural fit with his upbringing. “I was raised in a family that always extended help,” he said, “even when we needed help ourselves.”
Bostic served in the military years before he joined NMI as a volunteer. The background provided experience and skills that he would later pass along to those he mentored. As Bostic moved up the ranks, he became responsible for more and more young men.
“Leading and serving young adults is a central part of the job,” he said. “They need structure and consistency, whether they’re in the military or junior high school. I appreciate NMI for providing an opportunity to continue my family’s practice of extending help.”
Bostic brings this real-world know-how to his work as a mentor.
“You have to be genuine with kids,” he said. “They are very good at recognizing authenticity, and it’s a vital part of gaining their trust and establishing a positive relationship.” Of course, home life remains an important part of the equation. “You also have to build trust with the parents,” Bostic said. “They need to see that you’re reliable and that you’re going to do the right thing.”
Because of Bostic’s diligence and care, Khalil’s family has come to include him in decisions like which classes to take or which colleges to consider. Recently, he took Khalil to visit some possible schools to attend after he graduates. Bostic volunteers not only to make a difference in Khalil’s life but also because he cares about Newton County.
“Mentoring is necessary, and it’s needed,” he said. “If you want everyone to be involved in building a better community, you have to model that for the younger generation. As a mentor, I hope that I help make Newton a better place for everyone. When you mentor, you are modeling how to be a positive member of the community.”
People like Bostic are helping the youngest members of our community navigate the turbulent waters of life. He provides a safe harbor where they can enjoy a respite from the storm and plan how to chart the course ahead. Bostic strives to model how to work hard, be productive and strive for ambitious goals—an important example for all young people. Mentoring has personal benefits, as well.
“When I’m pouring into someone else and I’m attentive to their needs, it helps me escape my own world of pressures and problems,” he said. “I become so focused on my narrow perspective that it slowly pulls me down. By helping someone else, I have a fresh viewpoint. I’m reminded that it’s not all about me.”
For information on Newton Mentoring Inc., located at 6161 Turner Lake Road in Covington, visit www.newtonmentoring.org.
Click here to read more stories by D.J. Dycus.
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