‘A New Perspective’

 Ja’Nell Mikes thanks Root 2 Rise “for believing in me,” which he said was instrumental in helping him graduate and in determining his career goals.

Julia Rocha Villanueva and Ja’Nell Mikes.

As a Tutor-Mentor in Tiffany Williams’ physical education class at Fairview Elementary School (near Portland, Oregon), Ja’Nell said he learned patience and leadership.

When the students he helped were “loud and not listening” he “learned how to redirect them while also getting their respect,”  he said.

Choosing the daily warm-ups and activities, and leading the class gave him “a new perspective on teaching. I got to know the children and they got to know me.”  

The ability to “get out of the building for a while each day made it easier for me to be at school,” he said. 

“Root 2 Rise also looks good on my resume,” he said. Ja’Nell is now a caretaker in a retirement facility and plans to attend college next year to become a cardiovascular X-ray technician.