“If we want the public school system to get better, it starts with primary school, and it starts with reading.” -Rick Maronie
By by Former YouthNet mentor becomes a teacher. Interviewed by Stephanie Gibson struck with a sense of urgency. During his second year as a reading mentor, he asked himself, “Is this the career for you? Is this what you want to do?” At the time, he finally stopped running from what his mom and friends knew all along: he was meant to teach.
“Teachers can’t do it alone, we all need to take part in helping students succeed.”
Teacher, Rick Maronie pictured above.
Rick Maronie was encouraged by various family members and friends to consider a career in Education. His mother also advised him to pursue a Master’s in Education rather than an MBA. Each time the suggestion was made, Mr. Maronie would shrug it off and continue his focus of working towards a career as a financial analyst. It was not until he joined YouthNet’s Reading Programme, that he realized he indeed had a knack for teaching, and actually loved it! Recently, we sat down with Mr. Maronie to discuss his experience with YouthNet, his journey into teaching, and how YouthNet helped him realize his calling. “YouthNet made reading fun!” exclaimed Mr. Maronie, who always had a fondness for helping children succeed. He had been tutoring students between the ages of ten and forty in math for several years before joining YouthNet. Despite his years of experience tutoring, he was not sure if he would be able to handle mentoring a group of children with reading. These fears melted away after attending the reading mentor training session. A video was shown detailing the dire state of reading among many young Bermudians. Mr. Maronie was then
Through his mentoring experience, Mr. Maronie came to the realization that children are enthusiastic about learning, but their teacher, parent or mentor has to creatively find ways to engage that enthusiasm.” He learned how to keep his meetings fresh and interesting. He ensured that he did not get into a routine of simply reading words on a page, brought “the words to life.” His mentees saw how much he “loved reading and how much [he] valued its importance.” Although Mr. Maronie is no longer a mentor in the YouthNet Reading Programme, he notes that his time mentoring was extremely enjoyable and beneficial. He encourages anyone who is able to give of their time to join the programme. “If we want the public school system to get better, it starts with primary school, and it starts with reading. Teachers can’t do it alone, we all need to take part in helping students succeed” he asserts. In addition to finding his true passion, Mr. Maronie found the experience rewarding in many other ways. Every Thursday when he arrived for his meetings, his mentees “would stop whatever they were doing and come running.” As I wrapped up my interview and asked for any final thoughts, Mr. Maronie left me with this: “Once you show a child love, he/she responds with that love back.” The words of a true educator. For more information about YouthNet programmes, offered visit www.youthnet.bm
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