From Melissa

Hi everyone!

I first got involved with iMentor in 2000 when I was a senior in high school at Erasmus Hall Campus: High School for Business & Technology. I remember my amazing coordinator, Unique, who would come to my computer class weekly and help us as we corresponded with our mentors. My mentor that year was Lexy Mayers. At that time, she was working in Marketing at American Express. She was very encouraging and helped me figure out what I wanted to study in college, as well as assisting me with applying to schools.

Fast forward to 2007, I decided to give back and get involved with iMentor, this time as a mentor. The organization even helped me get back in contact with my former mentor Lexy, who is now an Executive Director of a non-profit. Lexy is still encouraging me, now as a recent college graduate, as I navigate this new world of being a grown up :)
I'm also happy to see that my program coordinator, Unique, is still with iMentor, working on the curriculum of the program.

My mentee is the fabulous Nubia. She is a senior at Catherin McCauley High School here in Brooklyn. It is an all - girl high school, and she is a part of the boarding school program where she lives in dorm style housing at the school. Nubia reminds me of myself in several ways-- the excitement of senior year, trying to choose the right school, dealing with silly boys, making prom plans, etc. She is also very bright, has a great sense of humor, and is sure to be breaking hearts at Virginia State University this fall!

I can't begin to tell you how much this organization means to me. It made a huge difference in my life, and the feeling of helping another superstar senior like myself ;) makes me feel like I'm making my small mark on this world. You don't think that weekly emails and a few meet & greets a year could make an impact, but I know that Nubia values my opinion, and having someone who has been in her shoes not that long ago to bounce ideas off of is helpful for her.

The program gives us prompts on various subjects to write about or talk about at events, somehow though she and I end up talking about college life, her interest in joining a sorority, her limo drama for prom, or how having an absentee father has affected both our lives. It is a pleasure to work with her, and she's already invited me to visit her in college next year, which I definitely plan to do!!

As you can see, I can go on and on about iMentor and how much I love them for what they have done for me, and what they do for hundreds of students across the city. But now it's your turn to be a part of the work they do. I am setting a fundraising goal of $500 to start. :) I figure if I can hit $500 that I'll bump it up :) So give as much as you can. Every little bit will help iMentor continue the work that they do everyday to assist underprivileged high school students here in NYC.

Thanks in advance!!!

Melissa