Q: Why did you become a mentor?

A: I think I really got involved in mentoring back when I was growing up. I was one of three boys raised by a single mother and there were people in the community who took an interest ? grandparents, aunts and uncles and neighbours ? people who really watched over us.

I saw other people willing to share their expertise, their professional skills and general love, to make me a better person. It was only later that I figured out that (some) of these people were mentors. They weren't getting paid. They were doing it out of the kindness of their heart.

I recognised that if a lot of good was able to come out of what they did for me and my brothers, that they were able to raise us to another level, then I wanted to be part of that. And so I made a conscious decision in my teens to give back. I felt it was important to give of myself ? times three, it always comes back.

Q: So you consider it a significant community service?

A: Mentoring is one of the most important things anyone can do with their life. Success is defined by people in many different ways and I guess I define success by being able to give back, being able to see that in some way, some form, I can touch someone who is maybe in a similar situation to the one I was in as a child. I am assistant vice-president of corporate treasury at Butterfield Bank. I've been mentoring here, with YouthNet, for a good six years.

I've done it in one way or form since when I was growing up in the state of Ohio ? with March of Dimes, a birth defect foundation where I was involved in programmes for young people who were (ill), and with youth groups in Ohio.

But here locally, I really liked the focus of YouthNet. I really liked their aim ? to keep students focused through mentoring. I mean, you've got to believe in that. If you believe in a mission or a statement then everything else is easy, you won't get side-tracked. I've been five or six years with YouthNet and it's been a rewarding experience.

Q: Have you stayed with the same kid the entire time?

A: (Executive director of YouthNet) Clare Mello was very great. I said at the beginning that if I was going to start mentoring someone I wanted to make sure and follow through with them. So I'm finishing with one of my young guys who I started with when he was in middle school ? Lorenzo.

We've been through thick and thin. Not only have I been a mentor but, hopefully, he views me as a friend. And then I had a second opportunity. Lorenzo moved on to senior school and I decided to (mentor a second student).

I started with a fellow in primary six, Tyrone. It's funny how quickly I became aware of how much younger primary students are. For example, I'd visit his school at lunchtime and the kids would be outside playing football. There I was dressed in a suit and tie ? not the right attire to partake in. Luckily, I can adjust.

Q: What is your goal with each child?

A: I meet with them once a week. Basically, I'm just reinforcing what their parents, the school administration and the community ? I think ? want to see in young people. With YouthNet it's important that you dedicate at least one hour during school time to a young person. It's about giving 100 per cent. I have two sons. A 14 year old and a 16 year old. And they certainly know that same philosophy ? to give 100 per cent in what you do, have a good work ethic, be honest, have a good character, try to be a good student.

Even if you're playing football or basketball ? just give 100 per cent. The worst thing that can happen if you apply yourself is you might lose. But what my grandparents have always said to me is that in order to become a winner sometimes you have to lose in order to understand what loss means. And hopefully, when you win the next time, you appreciate it.

Q: What are your sons' names?

A: Matthew and Jonathan. Oh yeah. An issue I would say right off the bat ? peer pressure. But because we're in a society where it's so easy to become distracted (by multiple forms of technology), one of the most important things I try and convey to them is, 'If you start something, finish it.

If you're going out for the football team, you may not like it sometimes when you practise, but finish it. I guarantee, when you get to the end of the season, it's going to work for you.'

Q: Do you volunteer with other organisations or are you just involved with YouthNet?

A: I'm one of the founders of a basketball league, the Indian Summer Basketball Club. We (cater to kids aged) 11 through 15. I also volunteer as a coach at Saltus Grammar School. I was exposed to that type of mentoring at a young age and what I'm hoping to see down the road is a three-fold response to all the effort we as mentors have put in.

I think we're raising people who will one day break the reins, carry the flag, carry the torch ? however you want to put it. I'm a prime example of that.

Q: Do you feel overextended in any way considering all the volunteer work you do?

A: No. I think I've got a good balance going on now. With regard to coaching basketball, the season starts in January and finishes mid-March or so. With our league, Indian Summer, that runs through the fall ? from September to December.

You do it because you love something. I believe that if it could help me while growing up in tough environments or whatever you want to call the city life back in the States, that it's got to be a good formula.

I'm not putting myself out there as a success story ? there are many others out there abroad and locally who have decided to give back and I salute all my peers and the work that we do.

Q: Are there sufficient mentors on the island to meet present demand?

A: I would say there's never such a thing as having too much. I believe as long as there's a demand out there, that there are kids who love the idea of having a mentor to reinforce the values that parents, the school and everybody else shares, that there will always be a need for professionals from all walks of life ? people who are committed to helping someone else.

We're no different to any community in the world. From Canada, to Europe, to the States, kids have the same type of needs. They need people who care about them.

Q: Why did you decide to get involved with YouthNet as opposed to another, similar type of organisation on the island?

A: A friend of mine recruited several of us. I like the school base, the fact that it is structured around education.

Youth Net had something that really tweaked my interest. You can't go wrong with keeping students focused through mentoring. No matter what you do, you're always looking at that goal. And that's what I like about YouthNet.

Q: The programme revolves around the school year?

A: Yes. And that's the important thing. You always want to make young people understand that education is very important. Education is something that no one can take away from you.

They can take your worldly goods, but they can never take what's up there in your mind. There's so many other activities out there that kids could be doing, we're just helping them to be positive.

Q: Why do you continue?

A: We go through life trying to find things that we like. I like to say I've found some things that I like. I love mentoring. I've been bitten by the bug. I think it's something that money cannot put a value on ? touching and affecting some young person's life. And in return, the one person you affect will give back three-fold.

Having had a relationship with Lorenzo for five years showed commitment. So I received an appreciation award from YouthNet for that. It's just a testimony that we have to work at it as volunteers.