Mentors, kids grow together

• By ELLYN COUVILLION
• Advocate Ascension staff writer
• Published: Jul 2, 2009

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GONZALES — Before this summer, the last time  businessman Orhan McMillan had seen Robert Arias — the student he once mentored —  had been five years ago, and Arias had just finished seventh grade.

When the two caught up with each other again last month, McMillan got to get re-acquainted with a newly minted high school graduate, who has been awarded an $88,500 Navy scholarship.

Arias, who left for an Illinois Navy base on June 23, said that the mentoring program he was in, during his middle-school years, made lasting, positive change in his life.

The experience, he said, “inspired me a little bit. It motivated me to actually do something with my life,” said Arias, 18, who graduated this year from East Ascension High School.

McMillan thought Jambalaya Park would be a good place for to meet up with Arias in mid-June.

In his role as mentor, McMillan had often taken Arias and his siblings — Arias is the oldest of five children — to play at the park.

“They became part of my family, and I became part of theirs,” McMillan said.

McMillan and Arias had met through a program of the non-profit organization Volunteer Ascension, called “Mentoring Ascension.”

The program — which is no longer in operation due to lack of funds — served children ages 8 to 13. Families, teachers and guidance counselors  recommended children to the program, which provided a carefully screened mentor.

The  mentors were matched with a child for a year, to provide eight hours a month of quality time with the child.

McMillan had actually been assigned as official mentor to Arias’ younger brother, Steven.

But, when McMillan brought Steven on outings like crawfish boils and hamburger cookouts or just to play video games, he’d bring along all of Steven’s three brothers, too.

“Steven and I would be about to do our official mentoring thing, and everybody would pile into my car,” McMillan said.