Dan and George
Mentor
Dan is a 24-year-old New Jersey native who recently graduated from the University of Southern California. Unsure of what he wanted to do with his life after graduation, Dan moved to Minneapolis, where he worked for a small Internet startup. Dan eventually returned to the East Coast and took a job as a web developer for WEbook.com, a site that helps writers on their path to publishing. A budding entrepreneur, Dan dreams of launching his own web-based startup in the future.
Mentee
George is a junior at Lower East Side Preparatory Charter School (LESP). George was born in the US, but moved with his parents to Malaysia (their native country) when he was 2 years old. George grew up in Malaysia, dropping out of school at age 16. After leaving school, he worked as an automobile mechanic. He traveled a lot, even moving to Japan for work. It was difficult to make ends meet, however, and George ultimately decided to return to the US and finish school. At 18 years old, George moved alone to New York City and began working as a mechanic as he tried to figure out how to re-enroll in school.
After supporting himself for 6 months, George enrolled at LESP. The school was recommended to him by a family friend whose daughter—also an immigrant—had attended previously. George was attracted to LESP, because its program is designed to meet the needs of recent immigrants who are aging out of traditional high school (18-24 years old). George was admitted as a junior midway through the fall semester and quit working to focus on his studies. While the experience of supporting himself alone in the US has been challenging, George has never been afraid of his situation. “Maybe I’m brave,” he suggests. “My mother always told me I was different and brave, even when I was small. Not a lot of people can go alone to a new country.”
Getting Involved
Dan got involved with mentoring in college and wanted to continue when he moved to New York City. He learned about iMentor through a friend who had previously volunteered with the program. Dan was attracted by iMentor’s unique structure and technological component. He says “iMentor fits perfectly into my life because of the flexible time commitment. I can spend one night a week on email. The writing prompts allow me to structure my thoughts and easily transition into phone calls and in-person conversations.”
Building a Relationship
Because George enrolled at LESP midway through the fall semester, he and Dan were not matched until November. Starting the program late, they were very enthusiastic about beginning to build their relationship. George recalls “Having a mentor was exciting for me. I felt it would be useful. I sent him 3 emails on the first day!” The pair exchanged several emails before meeting in person. They were both nervous and excited when they finally met face-to-face at an event at LESP. George and Dan discovered that they had a lot in common—including a strong sense of humor—and they hit it off immediately.
Discovering Commonalities
While George and Dan grew up on opposite sides of the world, they discovered that they have a lot in common. Dan and George both have strong bonds with their families. Dan enjoys visiting his parents in New Jersey, and George uses Facebook and Skype to stay connected with his family in Malaysia. The two both enjoy traveling and are not afraid to seek unfamiliar experiences and try difficult things. Dan says: “We both have wandered a lot in life. George has been to Malaysia, Japan and then came back to the US. I’ve wandered around the country and done some study abroad myself. It was easy for us to connect on that level.”
Providing Support
As a recent immigrant high school student, George faces many challenges. He is alone in a foreign country, separated from his family by thousands of miles. He supports himself financially and must balance school with the pressing need to earn enough money to survive in New York—one of the most expensive cities in the world. Because school is his first priority, George cannot take on a full-time job. Despite these challenges, George remains an upbeat, outgoing young man whose friends rely on him for advice. He loves helping his classmates work through problems and dreams of becoming a psychologist.
Dan is offering crucial guidance as George works through these challenges. In the absence of George’s family, Dan is a trusted adult who looks out for his well-being. The two talk a lot about school, discussing strategies for academic success. Dan stays top of what George is working on in his classes and makes a point to ask about the progress of his projects, papers and exams. Dan also supports George with challenges in his personal life. Dan helped George find a part-time job that would allow him to schedule work around his classes. Dan is also helping his mentee create a budget and learn to mange his personal finances.
George has a theory about why his relationship with Dan works. He says: “We are honest with each other. If I ask something, he answers truthfully. I do the same.”
iMentor’s Role
iMentor has played an important role in allowing George and Dan build a strong relationship. As Dan helps George navigate several difficult challenges, he often approaches Program Coordinator Sean Hamidi for advice. Recently, Sean helped Dan find a web site that features job opportunities for high school students. Dan shared this web site with George, who used it to look for work. George, who had never heard of mentoring before getting involved with iMentor, observes how supportive Sean has been. “Sean always smiles,” says George. “He helps to make us excited about our mentors, and it’s nice that he always asks about my life.”
Making an Impact
While Dan has provided George with support and guidance, he has also learned profound lessons from his mentee. Dan explains how George has inspired him: “George provides a new perspective on life by introducing me to things I don’t see every day. He has introduced me to a new culture and a new way of looking at the world.” Although they are nearing the end of their one-year match, George and Dan believe that their relationship will continue long into the future. They want to participate in the Alumni Pairs program during George’s senior year.
