Mentor & Intern, Team Barnabas Mentorship Program

Mentor to First-Year Students

Team Barnabas is a mentorship program designed to support first-year students of color, which proved invaluable as I began my college journey during the pandemic. My mentor was instrumental, guiding me through everything from class registration and textbook purchases to general advice and boosting my confidence. Inspired by her impact, I was determined to mentor others after my freshman year. However, the challenge was significant; my first year had been entirely remote due to the pandemic, making my sophomore year my first physical year on campus. Despite feeling like a freshman myself, I embraced the role of a mentor. My goal was to ensure that my mentee felt comfortable, safe, and like they belonged on a predominantly white campus. Through this mentorship, I developed a close friendship with my mentee, Bella Gunning. She shared that from our first meeting, she felt a sense of belonging on campus. Diving headfirst into this mentoring position was challenging, but immensely rewarding.