Mentee Gets Into College and Thanks His Mentor

At this time of year, many of our mentees are mailing deposits to secure their place in college in the fall. With the support and guidance of their mentors, mentees wrote personal statements, took the SATs, and applied for financial aid. International High School at Lafayette senior Ali, who was accepted to three schools and will be attending Long Island University, feels particularly grateful to his mentor, Paul, for his extraordinary support. Here’s a snippet of one of their last e-mail exchanges this academic year:  

Dear Paul,

Thanks to you, I am capable of taking care of myself. I learned a lot from you. You have made me a better person than I was before. Looking at your experiences, I actually want to be like you, outgoing, maybe become a mentor in the future. You have taught me not only to take care of myself but also try to experience new things. If I don’t like something that I never tried, why not try it? I might like it. You have also taught me to be strong and to take responsibility for myself. I remember when you told me to work hard in order to get something because no one will do it for me. You also motivated me to do things that I was afraid of doing.

Dear Ali,

This was such a wonderful email to read. It really means a lot to me to hear you list all the great things you've accomplished this year and also how you have really taken control of your life. I had so much fun over this past year and I’m so glad that I was able to help motivate you for your senior year in high school. I am truly honored to hear you say you would want to be like me. Thanks for the kind words, my friend. You have taught me a ton throughout this experience as well. Looking forward to staying connected during your transition to college and throughout your college experience. Enjoy graduation and the last few weeks as a high school student!

iMentor congratulates Ali—and all of our graduating seniors on their huge successes this year—and applauds Paul for being an exemplary mentor. We are proud to be able to pair students with strong, caring mentors each year who can support them on their journey to higher education.