Lashonda Slaughter & Margarita Orta (Mirek-6th Period)

Ms. Orta & Ms. Slaughter explaining their role as parent mentors

Have you ever needed help in school? That is why there are parent mentors. We interviewed two parent mentors from our community. Lashonda Slaughter, our first interviewee had dropped out of high school and came back and finished high school after two years. Margarita Orta, our second interviewee had finished high school but never went on to college. They both had different perspectives on the community.

Both interviewees worked for schools in different parts of the community. Lashonda became a parent mentor because she had nothing better to do and wanted to help the society. Margarita became a parent mentor due to the fact that her neighborhood was gang infested and also wanted to be closer with her kids. Lashonda explained that her community had ''bad people'' and drugs influencing the children. Margarita stated, ''there are gangbangers next door and they frighten the children.'' Their challenges were alike in a way.

The community heroes did not have the same thoughts on being a hero. Slaughter considered herself a hero, however Margarita did not. Orta claimed ''I do not believe I am a hero because my kids do not idolize me''. Yet, Lashonda believes she is a hero because she says that keeping bad people and drugs away from the children would help the community.

Margarita as well as Lashonda had similar definitions of the word "heroism". Margarita defined heroism as being admired by others. Lashonda's advice was to stay out of trouble and away from bad people. Our community can improve in many ways, but small things can cause a big change.