“Both of our brains clicked, and we were very excited,” said 12-year-old Elliot when asked about the first time he met his mentor, Adam.
Adam is an electronic security technician and spends every other Saturday morning teaching Elliot about electrical work. “Elliot is so into it,” said Connecting Champions Program Coordinator Danielle. “I’ll get a text from his parents saying, ‘He loved it! He’s showing us everything that he learned from Adam!”
Some of the lessons that Adam has taught Elliot are how to make switches and how to strip wire. However, every call starts with an educational lesson on safety to ensure that Elliot is protected. “The first call I had with him, he really emphasized putting on safety glasses,” said Elliot. “One time, about an hour after the call, I was still wearing the glasses.”
Adam really goes above and beyond when teaching Elliot about electrical work, setting up multiple camera angles to ensure that Elliot is able to see every part of his work through the computer screen. One thing that Elliot appreciates about his time with Adam is that he’s learning new things at 12 that he’s not being taught through his school’s curriculum. “My favorite thing about Connecting Champions is that it isn’t like school,” Elliot said. “I get with Adam and he wants to teach me about this thing that I may do in the future. I love that it’s not exactly like school!”
Elliot’s mother, Erica, took a different approach when asked what she appreciates about the organization. “Finding something like Connecting Champions that really isn’t centered on Elliot having cancer has been really meaningful to him especially,” said Erica. “He was seven when he was diagnosed. He is now twelve! More than ever before, he wants to just be a kid and not be thinking about brain cancer.”
Adam and Elliot’s mentorship is not slowing down anytime soon, and Elliot has some bright dreams for the pair when it comes to fixing his mom’s record player and learning more about the world that he is so passionate about. “Elliot’s applying the things that he’s learning from Adam to his life, so this doesn’t feel like some insular part of his life or his treatment,” said Erica. “It has really worked into who Elliot is as a person rather than what Elliot has been through as a life experience.”
