Sharon Bowman

Klamath-Lake YDN

What I do as a youth development coordinator

I have a great job; I get to work with people who work with youth. They call me a "YDN Coordinator." Wearing this title leads me to facets of: communicating, researching, training, sharing, learning, listening, connecting people and places, and wearing many hats (AmeriCorp VISTA, Oregon Mentors, Oregon ASK, Citizens For Safe Schools, Kids in the Middle, YDN). Humor, organization, flexibility, and lots of experience with youth and with people in the community are vital traits for this job.

The favorite thing about my job

My job is different every day. I guess I am most content when I am teaching and learning. (Not having to change gears when bells ring every 50 minutes is pretty nice too!)

Why I believe that mentoring makes a difference in the lives of youth

My own personal mentor encouraged me to be my "authentic self." Mentors give gifts like this to their mentees all the time.

If I could be mentored by anyone who would it be

Maya Angelou or Shel Silverstein

My favorite pastimes

Family time with my adult children and my husband, being with close friends, reading, crocheting rugs, chasing our 2 golden retrievers, and finding a great restaurant or recipe.

Where I want to travel next

I just got back from the coast so now I want to travel to Beatty, Oregon. It's a tiny spot about an hour from Klamath Falls where we are building a little cabin on some property. The sound of the wind in the trees up there is magical!

Best kept secret in Oregon

The tiny, hidden away, not advertised places all over Oregon.