Sharing my BLANK at iMentor
Where can you find a youth mentoring organization that has two opera singers, an underground comic book club, and a black belt? At iMentor! Mentor bridges communities by matching volunteers one-to-one with high school students from underserved communities. Through a combination of email exchanges and fun events, iMentor creates in impactful mentorships that improve the lives of young people. And our staff is extremely talented!
Being placed at iMentor through the NYC Civic Corps has truly shaped my volunteer experience this past year. From performing Salt ‘N Peppa for the Halloween Showdown to being a mentor myself, I feel like I am part of the iMentor community. I’ve embraced the many opportunities to staff events like our 4 Under 40: Making a Difference in NYC at the Google office. These events not only celebrate our current mentors, but they also help recruit new invaluable volunteers. I get to meet the incoming volunteers at our mentor trainings. My most memorable training moment was when a prospective mentor told us that he was once an iMentor mentee, and now wished to pay it forward. I’ve played a crucial role in overseeing mentors through the screening process, and then witnessed them be matched with mentees. I’ve observed both parties’ nervousness to begin their new mentorships. But no matter how different or alike they seem, a relationship inevitably develops. This is most evident at the Mentor-Mentee Events I have helped staff. From ice-skating to college prep night, the energy between pairs is tangible. I know firsthand that mentoring positively impacts both individuals involved. I have supported my mentee through her junior year as she prepares for college, and she has inspired me with her inner-strength and amicability. The iMentor community changes lives whether you are a mentor, a mentee, a staff member, or a Civic Corps member.
By connecting people through mentoring, iMentor is creating a culture where communities are engaged with each other. In reflecting about the iMentor experience, a mentor once told me that her and her mentee “would have never met each other if [they] hadn’t participated in this program. In a way, this makes the relationship more genuine.” During my year of service with NYC Civic Corps, I’ve used my blank to make a difference in the iMentor community.
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