Raechel Warren, current Miss Nebraska, shares insights on the importance of in-school mentoring support

By Raechel Warren

Traveling the state of Nebraska these last six months, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting schools with thousands of students and schools with a couple hundred students. Did you know that more than a third of Nebraska’s population lives in rural areas, and 50 of the state’s 93 counties are rural. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census defines rural areas as open country and settlements with fewer than 5,000 residents and fewer than 2,000 housing units – Economic Research Service – USDA. As you can imagine, one rural community is not the same as another, but unfortunately it seems like that is what is assumed. Even in one county, the schools differ in their needs, the student population, the teachers and staff. We cannot treat each rural school the same, yet I fear that we might be.

As I finalize preparations and pack my bags to head to Miss America, I sit reflecting on my own upbringing in a rural-adjacent community, and the mentorship opportunities that I was blessed with. And I am immensely grateful for those individuals who poured into my life. As a servant leader in my community, my motto has always been “you never know what one act could make a difference in someone’s life.” I watched my mom live out this motto in my hometown skating rink. A young skater, who was being raised by her grandmother in an emotionally unhealthy environment, would always skate up to my mom and say “Christi Christi watch me!” I found myself frustrated because I didn’t understand why she was interrupting my mom. But then I saw how her Grandma talked to her. And in one moment I realized that my moms attention to her, and her kind words of encouragement may have been the only positive reinforcement she received all day. Not at school – there’s too many students for that 1:1 attention. Not outside the home – because there were three other kids being raised by the grandma, and the skating rink was her only extra curricular because her grandma worked there part time. This child didn’t have access to any positive encouragement in her life, let alone access to mentorship opportunities.

This is what I believe far too many students are facing. Our society is so busy. While school-based mentorship programs may not be for every student, I believe this is where we have to focus our time in rural communities. Mentorship and access to 1:1 adult to student relationships are critical now more than ever. If I could mentor every student I come across, I would in a heartbeat!! For some students, they may never be encouraged to connect to an outside organization or have the fiscal ability to be involved in an extracurricular activity. Any resource that can come to them on school turf or any organization that has the ability to transport the student to them – these are the programs that rural communities need more of.

In the story about the little roller skater, consistency was a key component to consider. I discuss this aspect of mentorship quite often, but it needs to be discussed more. That little girl knew that every Tuesday and Thursday she would get to see her coaches, the other kids, and my mom. That was her escape. While your mentee may not express this to you, or may seem like they aren’t enjoying your weekly or monthly get togethers. They are. And they look forward to it.

I am thankful to live in and represent a state that takes mentorship so seriously, that our Governor made it possible for government employees to take paid time off to go mentor! Time for adults is also a constraint, and in a rural community where much of the community is likely working full time, these school-based programs that have time blocks and don’t require extra transport or funds, are likely to be of more interest to community members!

Being Miss Nebraska has not only allowed me to explore first-hand what our students need, but it also allows me to advocate for them in real time.

If I have the honor to be crowned your Miss America, I hope to address this important work within the first 60 days of my reign. With the important efforts being forged by The Center, and increased advocacy taking place across the country, we can change many young lives!!