"I'm a constant in her life now " says Kim McKenna, high school counselor and friend to her mentee. "I'm the longest friend she's ever had."

McKenna volunteers as a mentor for the Boulder Enhanced Supervision Team (B.E.S.T.) which provides services to youth facing difficult life situations. McKenna's official mentoring assignment was over last June but her friendship with her young mentee continues.

"Every Wednesday we meet and go see a play or do an activity like putt- putt golf. We go for walks; I've got her riding a bike. If I'm out with her I don't look at my watch. We go 'til the play is over, 'til the golf game is done."

The friendship is bearing fruit. "She was skipping school a lot," says McKenna, "and she just graduated in June. Her self esteem has gone way up."

The key, says McKenna is simple, but difficult to do: "Don't try to 'fix' anybody. You're just there to model. That was a challenge for me, to accept her for who she is. I'm in it now because I like her," says McKenna, " I can't save the world but I do save a piece of it once in a while!"

For information about volunteering with Boulder County B.E.S.T. Program or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.