All summer, SSP has been hosting virtual mentorship kickoff sessions to prepare each mentor and mentee for their new meaningful relationship! These kickoff sessions include a presentation detailing the qualities for forming valuable connections as well as the resources and events created by SSP to help foster mentorships.
We decided to take a closer look at a new pair, what they look forward to, and what mentorship means to them. We asked Lizmarie (mentee) and Victoria (mentor) to let us in on how they felt about meeting each other for the first time. Check out their quotes below:
Lizmarie:
“I am very happy and excited to be part of the SSP program. I feel happy with my mentor Victoria. From our Zoom meeting, I felt not rushed and understood. I love that SSP offers this opportunity to have a mentor because not many kids have this chance.
I look forward to learn and excel in high school. I look forward to engage in all the opportunities SSP has to offer.”
Victoria:
"I believe having a mentor is an important component to any transitional point in one's life, but especially in the formative years of high school. I chose SSP because of their dedicated approach to fostering the relationship between student and mentor during a pivotal time in a student's life. I was excited to meet Lizmarie, learn about some of her goals and focus areas, and look forward to watching her grow in the months ahead."
Mentee’s mother, Fiordaliza:
“I am very proud for my daughter to be part of SSP. I feel blessed to be part of a program that not only helps students and family financially but also provides mentorship. I believe having a mentor - someone outside the home - is very important and helpful. I feel my daughter will have a stronger support system. Someone who is on her side. Being a teenager is a hard and crucial point in life . . . it sets the tone of your life as an adult, and teenagers think sometimes parents do not know much or are too protective. With a mentor, they can have other perspectives that lead back to what mom and/or dad said, which is great! That's what I love and I am excited about.
Also I see the mentorship and other benefits the program has as a pot of soup. All together (different ingredients, perspectives) would make an awesome and tasty soup - a brilliant, alert child.”
