In honor of Women's History Month, we want to thank our powerful female mentors who are constantly serving as role models to SSP students. Below is a story about how a mentor can turn into chosen family for students who don't have all the resources they need to succeed.
Meet Kristine Liwag, an SSP mentor to sisters Lena and Lana and an aerospace and defense analyst at Morgan Stanley. She has been actively involved in her mentees' lives for three years and counting. Initially, her reasoning for mentoring was to give back to the community. She recalled how much easier her life could've been if she had someone there to support her through challenges and promote her personal growth.
During her upbringing, finances were tight for her family due to having two working parents and three additional siblings. Kristine mentioned that, "Food was really more about sustenance, and we stuck to our traditional Filipino foods. Trying different restaurants and cuisines wasn't really part of the budget. Once I had my own job and was financially independent, learning more about different cultures felt like such a luxury." As a result, she thought that introducing Lena and Lana to different cultures and foods would be a great way to learn about the world. "They're both foodies, and food is always a great bonding experiences, and that's something we've embarked on," Kristine said.
Kristine and her husband with mentees, Lena and Lana, trying a new cuisine.
At the beginning of her mentorship, Kristine told us that she was a little apprehensive that SSP's mentoring program is for four years. However, after time, she said, "It was actually much easier than I thought. Especially this generation, you just text them they respond. FaceTime and Zoom make things easy." For her, this was enough to really feed a relationship and give it growth.
Now, their bond is stronger than ever. The four-year mentorship commitment gave Kristine an ample amount of time to cultivate a trusted relationship between the girls and their mom. Kristine dove head first into this journey and came out as a role model for Lena and Lana, coupled with lifelong memories. From watching the Rockettes, to trying new cuisines, and attending their sweet sixteens, Kristine has been a steady rock in their life and someone they can rely on.
Kristine with Lena, Lana, and their mom at a Chinese restaurant.
Over time, Kristine has seen their confidence increase through different facets. She has had conversations with her mentees about the classes they want to take, struggles they are facing in school, how they talk to teachers, getting more extra credit, and really taking more ownership over their academic life. She's also been a source of encouragement as they pursue their passion for tennis and have found greater success. Lena and Lana have played at multiple tournaments, including one upstate where Kristine was there to cheer them on. "Seeing their passion grow for something that a few years ago was really more of a side activity and now is really central to their life, it's great to see."
Lena and Lana, being sisters, share a unique bond with Kristine that sets their relationship apart. "I really appreciate her. We do a lot of stuff together. She's really close to us, and our moms are close too. She even comes to our house," Lena said. Lana said that she's definitely going to stay in touch with Kristin in college, and even as she becomes an adult and pursues her own career.
When we asked Kristine about her advice for those hesitant about mentorship or eager to learn more, she emphasized the gratification for both oneself and the mentee. "When you're working with high school students, you're still there before they've chosen a life path. You can really have an impact on where they go and how they think about their future. Is college the right answer for them? Which career? How do they think about the rest of their life," she said.
Become a sponsor by clicking here to make a gift for the incoming Class of 2027 today. We're always looking for mentors to support our students as well, so if you or someone you know is interested, click here to learn more about becoming a mentor and get started.
Kristine and Lana at the Wicked musical for SSP mentors and mentees.
Lena and Lana's sweet sixteen, celebrating alongside Kristine and her husband.
A family affair — Kristine, Lana, Lena, grandma, and mom at the Rockettes.
