Photo courtesy of Grace Yeung / Allison Zhang, Bona Buddies Coordinator
BY ELIZABETH EGAN, FEATURES ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Allison Zhang, a junior, from Princeton NJ, double majoring in public health and health science with a biomedical concentration, has worked as a Bona Buddies coordinator since the spring semester of her freshman year. Bona Buddies is a youth mentoring program based out of the Franciscan Center For Social Concern.
Can you describe in your own words what Bona Buddies is to you?
I think it is an important part of the university’s community outreach. Bringing in kids and connecting them with our students is something I find to be very important. We are helping expose kids to different topics like the Medical Emergency Response Team, Asia, Active Minds and to me it is really just about connecting people.
How did you hear about Bona Buddies?
I remember Bona Buddies being this really important club that I heard about when I came here. I loved working with kids in high school. I was involved in tutoring and other outreach programs similar to Bona Buddies. I was drawn to Bona Buddies because being in STEM can become very intense so this seemed like a good way to relax and unplug while hanging out and bonding with kids. One of my friends told me the coordinator application was open so I applied and now here I am two years later.
What has made you stay with it for so long?
I think what I love about it is that even though it’s a lot of hard work, I get to see the results. At the beginning of every semester, we match buddies with kids which takes a lot of work and is a team effort. I always feel proud of myself and my team that first week when everything is running and I know it is because we collaborated on everything. Seeing that is very rewarding to me. Also, knowing that some kids come from difficult households and that they get to come here and just play games and be a kid is really nice to know.
What has been your favorite thing about being a coordinator?
I think my favorite thing has been seeing the effect on the community and seeing generations come through. There will be a mom who comes and says I did this program and she will bring her kids back. It is nice seeing how long the program has been going as we come up on 50 years. It is cool to see whole families coming through the program.
What is the most challenging part about being a coordinator?
There are aspects of the job that are difficult to deal with. There will be things you have to report, lack of attendance or parents who are difficult to reach when their student is having a hard time.
What do you think is the most significant benefit this program has to the community?
Definitely exposure to different topics and just to give kids something to aspire to. Some kids have been really interested in the clubs that come in and that helps them see what they want to do in the future. Some kids won’t be going to college but this shows them all the different aspects of college they could experience someday if they choose. It also gives the child a relationship outside of family and friends with someone older who they can look up to.
What is the most significant benefit that this program brings to the students?
I think the main thing is being invested in something that is for someone else. Also just being given time to not do anything academic and hang out with a kid and bond with them.
Do you have a particular moment from your two years as a coordinator that has stood out to you?
One moment that really stood out to me was a single mom who would drop off her three kids. One week, she pulled the coordinators aside to thank us for helping her out and let us know how much she needed those two hours to make dinner, get stuff ready at home, and just get herself together after a long day. She really appreciated having one day to drop off her kids knowing they were safe with other people and looked after. That was a moment that really stood out to me.
What would you tell a student considering volunteering for Bona Buddies?
I would tell them that I think it is a great experience and something that you probably will not expect to be as great as it is but that you will see how rewarding it is. You get to grow along with the kid.
If someone were to ask what their money would be going to if they donated to bona buddies what would you say?
Allocating resources to bringing in more kids and expanding our program. Also, being able to fund our parties and stuff like that are really important. We have a Halloween, Christmas and an end of year party that always means a lot to the kids. Funds to be able to continue these programs are an extremely important part of Bona Buddies.
In 2024, Bona Buddies will have its 50 year anniversery. While it is still a couple months away, donating to the Franciscan Center For Social Concern on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, helps fund programs like Bona Buddies and allows students like Zhang to keep doing their jobs
eganea20@bonaventure.edu
