After living in DC for 12 years, Kirstin Hall sought a new way to connect to her community. “I live in and love this city, and I wanted to give back.” She explored several volunteer opportunities, from joining a neighborhood revitalization club to delivering food to the elderly. Then, one afternoon, she stumbled across DC Tutoring and Mentoring Initiative on her way home from grocery shopping and knew she had found the right fit. Through the program, she was introduced to two organizations and ultimately chose Higher Achievement.
At first, mentoring felt like uncharted territory. “I thought, ‘I’m in over my head! How do I get them interested?’” Kirstin recalls. “I’m an only child, so I didn’t have one-on-one connections with kids outside of my close friends.” Those early sessions were a learning curve, but with time, consistency, and the universal power of snacks, she and her scholars found their rhythm.
As trust grew, so did their connection. “They started to trust me and open to me and joke. Now when I walk in, I get a hug hello, even when I hold them accountable for how they did on their math test,” laughs Kirstin. “I really love it, because it’s very personal to share snacks, and chat about school, family, and what we do for fun.”
Kirstin recognizes the importance of support and encouragement during the middle school years and has seen firsthand the impact it has for her scholars. “These are very formative years,” says Kirstin. “I’ve started to notice more maturity in my scholars in the way that they walk and speak. They’ve grown in their self-awareness and their awareness of others. I’ve seen a huge leap in emotional intelligence, which has been really exciting to see. They’ve impressed me so much with the profound things that they say. It’s just been immense growth from last year.”
Higher Achievement’s structured curriculum supports this growth by helping scholars set personal and academic goals while exploring high school, college, and career pathways.
Recently, Kirstin noticed a shift in her 7th-grade scholars’ attitudes toward high school. “We went around and talked about what they’re interested in and why, from clubs to AP courses. They’ve been intimidated, but recently they jumped right in and were genuinely intrigued. I love seeing them start to lean in and get excited and connect the dots between their interests and their future,” says Kirstin. Their conversations not only include the possibilities for high school, but also for college and career. “I’m already thinking about how to motivate and inspire them. I went to an HBCU myself, so my ears perked up! But it’s less about the school and more about the potential of college. That’s a big breakthrough!”
Kirstin knows that mentoring isn’t just about academic guidance—it’s about being a source of encouragement and advocacy. “Aside from family, a mentor can offer a different point of view or perspective. We all have different life experiences, so mentors are someone else who can see a scholar’s strengths and weaknesses, cares for them deeply, and advocates for them. Often young kids don’t feel like they have the capacity or autonomy to advocate for themselves, and a mentor can help give them confidence or a push. A mentor is someone who can meet them at their level and doesn’t judge.”
For Kirstin, mentoring is as rewarding for her as it is for her scholars. “When I’m with them, I tap into my inner child. I’m excited to be around their energy and get to know what they’re watching and what they’re listening to,” says Kirstin. “It’s a good and humbling feeling to connect with young kids and to gain their trust.”
Mentors like Kirstin believe in our scholars’ limitless potential. Your support–as a mentor or donor–gives scholars access to opportunities that bring their big dreams to life. Get involved today and make a lasting impact!