Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 2, 1995                   TAG: 9501030026
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A PAT ON THE BACK TO:

AGE: 18

SCHOOL: William Fleming High School and The Drop-In Academy, Roanoke

YEAR: Senior

WHAT SHE DOES: Mesha helps elementary school pupils with their studies.

For two hours each weekday afternoon, she volunteers at the YMCA's Drop-In Program at the Jefferson Center gym, an after-school center for kindergartners through fifth graders. Mesha works with the children as they do their homework, tutoring them and supervising them during activity time, and accompanying them on field trips.

``I like kids and like helping them with their education. I think education is important. And I like working with the fifth graders best because they're more mature and get their work done,'' Mesha said.

``It's important to understand where kids are coming from and just listen,'' Mesha said. ``Whenever a little child is asking for help, you should be there to support them.''

Kara Slaughter, Mesha's government and history teacher at Roanoke City School's Drop-In Academy, nominated her because, ``I was impressed she was taking the time to help these kids. It's remarkable to see [teen-agers] volunteering. Mesha has a great sense of humor, and I know the kids enjoy being with her.''

Brenda Trent, assistant director of the Drop-In Program, agrees, and added, ``I think it's good high schoolers like Mesha take the time to come in here; it's not something they have to do.''

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Mesha knows the importance of her own education, as well, and plans to graduate from Fleming next spring, which is ahead of schedule. After her hours with the children, she takes a class every evening at the Drop-In Academy, earning a full year's course credit in one semester.

She attended summer school and took a night class last year as well, anxious to ``get out into the world and get a good job.''

A full day such as Mesha's, including studying time when she arrives home at 7 p.m., leaves little time for outside activities. Still, she enjoys baby-sitting her nieces (``I don't ask to get paid; I just like to do it.'') and is ``always singing.'' She sings in her church choir and has sung at weddings and funerals.

WHY SHE DOES IT: ``I think working with children teaches you patience and responsibility. It gives you an idea of what their needs are and of how much work it is to have a child,'' she said. ``Helping others is like helping yourself, because you learn how good of a person you are. It comes from the heart.''

OBSTACLES: ``Somehow, it all fits into my schedule,'' Mesha said. The hardest part of helping children is that ``sometimes kids don't want to listen, but you have to keep working with them.''