The opportunity to try something new drew Kyle into service with HOPE: “I was attracted to HOPE because of the opportunity it gave me to work with children who may have a physical and/or mental disability. This type of work and interaction with others was something I had never personally experienced before I began to participate with HOPE.”

Kyle, who aspires to become a family physician, feels that HOPE also offered him something vocational. “In order to take care of all my patients in the best manner possible, I knew that I needed to have awareness as to how to interact with patients who have disabilities,” states Kyle. “Working with HOPE,” he continues, “has allowed me to better appreciate these people and has also taught me how to work with them to unlock the true potentials they indeed possess.”

In addition to juggling pre-med studies, Kyle has worked hard with Amar—his HOPE buddy at The Children’s Center for the Physically Disabled in Winston-Salem, NC. Speaking about Amar, Kyle relays that “I love and appreciate him very much. He is very joyful and all know him as a loving and entertaining boy who desires a hug from everyone!” In keeping with HOPE’s mission, Kyle has worked with Amar to advance several unique goals that were identified by Amar’s teachers. Teachers had noted that Amar used to be socially intolerant with other classmates and teachers. Gradually, however, as Kyle worked with him weekly, Amar began to interact more peacefully with others. “Over time and with subtle and loving correction,” states Kyle, “Amar became more likely to share toys with other classmates, play games with others students, and even restrain his annoyance after losing a board game.” After all, it’s these small things that make a Hopester’s mentorship so influential.

Kyle thinks that one reason HOPE makes such a powerful impact involves the demographics of Hopesters. Kyle believes that “children with special needs in preschool and grade school tend to look up to college students in a unique way.” In addition, Kyle notes an equally powerful impact that HOPE has made on him: “Volunteering with HOPE has changed my opinion about children with disabilities. Before HOPE, I had never interacted with these persons before and wanted to learn how to interact with persons who have disabilities in a loving and caring manner. HOPE has given me the opportunity to learn these—and more—important caring techniques I will use in the future.”

Kyle believes in HOPE, and therefore, strongly supports HOPE’s expansion to other colleges and special needs schools. In doing so, Kyle states that “HOPE is an organization that mutually benefits both Hopesters as well as their buddies who they see every week. The buddies have the individual attention they desire and need from a Hopester and, therefore, have the chance to interact with a person who many children look up to very much. Hopesters are able to engage in a special opportunity and learn how to interact with the children in a compassionate manner and improve their abilities to interact with people with disabilities.”