When Imheer Isaac began his freshman year of high school, he felt that everything he had worked toward was slipping away. Struggling academically, he considered transferring to another school — and was worried that doing so would mean giving up his dream of playing college football.
But his Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) mentor, Drin Kukaj, pictured at left, refused to let Imheer give up on himself.
In tandem with SSP, Drin helped Imheer transfer to Nazareth Regional High School, in Brooklyn, where he found the academic environment and football program he needed to thrive. The decision proved transformative. At Nazareth, Imheer grew not only as a student and athlete, but also as a leader, mentoring younger students through football and the performing arts.
Now a Nazareth graduate, Imheer will head to Long Island University this fall to play Division I football while continuing his education.
His story reflects something deeper about the power of SSP’s mentorship model: the impact can extend across generations. Twenty years ago, Drin was an SSP student himself. Now he serves as an SSP Board member and mentor, giving back to the organization that helped shape his own life.
For Imheer, that legacy is just beginning. His journey is a powerful reminder that mentorship is about more than helping a young person succeed today. It is about giving students the confidence, support, and opportunity to become leaders — and, one day, mentors themselves.
