Meet Zachary and Tyrese
Laughter and Support
By Erin Zimmerman
For one year now, Zachary McFarlane, 33, and nine-year-old Tyrese spend time together each week. Theyplaybasketball, ride bikes and are recently tackling homework.
But more importantly, the two smile and laugh, and appreciate the simple things— something Zachary often finds refreshing. Tyrese reminds Zachary of the joy that innocent laughter and silliness can bring.
“It’s easy to forget how to laugh,” Zachary said.
For Zachary, childhood memories weren’t always that care-free. Seriousness had an all-too-familiar face when he was young. At 16, his dad died after a three-year battle with cancer.
““It was a pretty serious time,” Zachary said. “He was a good man, but going through that, I felt like I didn’t measure up; like I missed out on something. I was always seeking affirmation.”
Still, Zachary said he was fortunate. At the time of his father’s death, several family friends stepped in to help and offer their support. He said he was lucky to have some amazing men step in during such an impressionable time; he knew some day he would return the favor.
Feeling as though he still had some growing up to do, Zachary joined the Coast Guard after high school, where he served for eight years. The idea of becoming a mentor had always been in the back of his mind. Following his time in the Coast Guard, Zachary came to Colorado and attended University of Northern Colorado.
During that time, he met someone who was involved with Partners Mentoring Youth, and the timing was right, so he decided to become a mentor. Since then, he has had two Junior Partners and now works for the organization as the Community Relations Manager.
Through his partnership with Tyrese, Zachary has found a rewarding friendship. From teaching Tyrese how to ride his bike to taking him on his first hike, Zachary has become a strong male role model that Tyrese can count on.
“Not having a dad around, no matter how it happens, brings a lot of the same problems and thought processes,” Zachary said.
Understanding this, Zachary is able to give the support that he knows can make a difference, even if it just means cheering Tyrese on at his sports games and practices. In return, Zachary has learned to live in the moment and has gained a new friend.
Plus, he now has a great excuse to watch all the new kids’ movies, he said with a chuckle.
“I’m pretty fortunate. He’s a great kid, and I want to hang out with him,” Zachary said. “To invest in someone and watch them grow, to see a kid look at you and smile because he knows you are there—those moments are worth any little amount of stress it causes me. It’s a good relationship and I hope it’s one I have with him for a very long time.”