Why I mentor: Woman helps support student through virtual school

Tina Blessen’s path to becoming a TeamMates mentor started with a chance meeting in a Sioux Falls parking lot.

It was the summer of 2019, and Blessen recognized a man she’d previously worked with when she was in the athletics department at the University of Nebraska years ago. He was in town working to get a new chapter of the TeamMates Mentoring Program started in Sioux Falls.

TeamMates Mentoring, like Blessen, has Nebraska roots. The program was founded by former Huskers coach Tom Osborne as a way to connect college athlete mentors with middle school student mentees. The organization has since evolved to serve thousands of children across the Midwest, largely in schools, with mentors from a variety of backgrounds.

Blessen was sold on the idea right away.

“I thought, wow, what a good way to give back,” she said. “I think it’s just good for kids to have another safe adult to talk to that they can trust and build a relationship with.”

A mother of two herself, Blessen has seen the impact strong adult role models can have on young children. She saw TeamMates as an opportunity for her to be that person for someone else’s child.

She first met her mentee, 11-year-old Anna Seigfred, in November, about six months later than initially planned and in a format different from most traditional mentoring relationships.

TeamMates was geared up to launch in-person mentoring in Sioux Falls schools in March 2020, but then the pandemic hit. Schools closed for a couple of weeks. Many kids moved to virtual learning, including Anna, and the mentoring organization was forced to press pause for a few months before starting the virtual program in the fall.

Blessen and Anna have yet to meet in person, but their virtual mentoring relationship is still a win-win.

Anna’s mom, Stacy Seigfred, said that with as difficult as the past year has been, seeing her daughter have another person in her life to connect with has been a good thing.

“I’m glad for her to have that,” Seigfred said. “I think we’re all doing our best, but having more adults involved and holding their hand out to help is a wonderful thing.”

Anna visits virtually with Blessen weekly, and Blessen said she has enjoyed getting updates on Anna’s life, getting to know her likes and dislikes, and hearing her excitement for one of the big changes on the horizon: middle school.

“It’s just been awesome just to let her know I’m there,” said Blessen, who’s also a board member for TeamMates. “I’m going to be there every week, and you can trust me when and if you want to talk about something.”

One thing Blessen said she likes about TeamMates is that it opens up mentoring opportunities for all kids, not just those who are identified as having a tough time.

It has been fun for her to learn little things about Anna, like the girl’s love for the beach and excitement for an upcoming family trip.

“She’s super independent and very responsible,” Blessen said.

Seigfred said the mentoring program also has given Anna a chance to have some of the same experiences as her classmates who are still doing in-person learning.

“It was one of the things that I was loath to have her miss out on with going virtual,” Seigfred said. “So far, it’s a positive thing for her, and it’s just that opportunity to have one more positive contact in her day.”

Did you know you can become a mentor for 20 minutes per week without leaving your home or office? Contact [email protected] to learn more.