frustration

Today wasn’t easy.

Actually, this week has been a challenging one.

I’ve walked away from a couple places with a feeling of frustration falling over me – this morning being one of those moments. In looking back at the day, the word frustration stayed in front of me, but looking at the definition makes me wonder.

frus·tra·tion

/frəˈstrāSHən/

Noun

1. The feeling of being upset or annoyed, esp. because of inability to change or achieve something.

I got frustrated this morning because of the outlook towards the youth in North Charleston and a slow (but improving) graduation rate at North Charleston High School. It was the first time I have bumped into community leaders seemingly writing off the success that has been made in taking the graduation rate from right at 30% to 45% in the last three years.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying a 45% graduation rate is acceptable, but to write off the positive movement all together seems harsh to me.

The difference on where I’m at from frustration – I believe it can change!

The statistics we saw three years ago frightened us including:  a graduation rate of 30%, a growing drop out rate, and growing waiting lists for mentoring and programs that students ‘aged out’ at sixteen.

We started the e3 (engage, educate, empower) mentoring program in a direct response to these issues and the ever-growing number of students we saw between the ages of 12 and 19 who were desperately seeking this type of relationship.

We believed in change.

e3  matches at-risk youth in middle and high school with professional and community mentors on a one-on-one basis. The goal is to help the youth become productive citizens who make positive contributions, good choices and love God.

Our mission, to create and facilitate God-ordained relationships between a mentor and a child.

Our vision is to allow a child to experience God through someone and see God in someone. The impact the Dream Center and the e3 program has had on our community and in the lives of the students is incredible:

• Over 100 different students have been matched in a one-on-one mentoring relationship
• Currently 43 students have been paired with a mentor for 2012-2013 school year
• North Charleston High School’s graduation rate has increased from 34.4% in 2008 to 45.3% in 2012 (Source: SC Annual Report Card Summary
• Students enrolled in the e3 mentoring program have an overall graduation rate of 84.6%
• 31.8% of e3 graduate students are currently attending or have graduated from college

The need for mentoring is growing, with the current enrollment of North Charleston High School at 400+ students. Our heart is to see each one of these students engaged in a mentoring relationship – led by the church!

We believe in change and we have the ability to achieve it!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26