“I Wanted To Be Involved”
Steven Talpai – Volunteer Coach
School was always a panic situation for me when I was a child. Right from the start, I didn’t like Kindergarten. I never felt like I belonged. When I had trouble learning, my Dad would try to help me but he would get frustrated and angry. The result was I had no self-confidence and stopped trying. I didn’t finish high school. I got a job in a foundry but didn’t like it. I got a job in construction and was doing okay until I was injured on the job. Now I’m taking a retraining course as part of Worker’s Compensation.
My daughter took part in Strong Start® Letters, Sounds and Words Program and it really helped her. Then, I saw a notice in the school newsletter about needing volunteers for the Strong Start® Project. I had always wanted to be more involved in my daughter’s school so, here I am.
With the training I got as a Strong Start® Volunteer Coach I feel I can really help. One of the things I do is to encourage the children to be ‘loud and proud’ of themselves. I give them things to do like getting the Strong Start® materials from the shelf and getting them ready on the table, just like assembling your tools on a construction job. It makes them feel good to be able to do that on their own. Being happy with your set up, that’s important! If they’re waiting to be told here and can’t think for themselves, then they’re probably waiting and not thinking in other areas too. They need to be able to problem-solve or at least know how to get started at problem-solving. Simple steps like going and getting their materials gives them practice in self-direction. It gives them confidence.
I think it really helps that I’m a man since there are very few men in the schools. It helps them to hear sensitivity in a male voice. They can sense your sincerity and, if you don’t mean what you say, they can sense that too. My Strong Start® kids do well on the tests for this program, so I know they are learning a lot. I think I’m having some success in building confidence because the children I work with usually arrive early for their session with me and have a smile on their face when they leave. That’s very important. I realize now that I’m a trained volunteer, that I can do this for the children. I know the kids are going to benefit because they’re going to remember the steps you first taught them to get them over that first hurdle. It feels good to be involved and to realize how much I can do, so that children enjoy learning! Life might have been easier for me, if I enjoyed school more myself.
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