In 2011, Cassandra “Sandy” Reynolds was looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity in her community, and she found a perfect fit as a mentor at the newly launched Richmond affiliate of Higher Achievement. Fifteen years later, Ms. Sandy remains one of Richmond’s longest-serving mentors, and her commitment to supporting scholars through the formative middle school years has impacted hundreds of lives.
Over the years, Ms. Sandy has worn many hats. She started as a mentor for 5th-grade scholars and stayed with her mentoring group each year until their graduation from the program in 8th grade. Over time, she discovered her passion for supporting 8th graders in their final year of middle school. As an 8th-grade high school readiness mentor, she helps scholars navigate one of the most important transitions in their educational journey as they apply to and prepare for high school. She values the opportunity to help scholars explore their options, think about their goals, and identify the schools and pathways that are the best fit for them.
Ms. Sandy understands the important support role mentoring plays in a student’s life.
“Our scholars have teachers at school, and I’m not their teacher,” says Ms. Sandy. “I feel like what I bring to the table is an opportunity to share advice, be present, and be a sounding board for scholars.”
Ms. Sandy strives to create a space where young people feel seen, supported, and valued. Her scholars know they can count on her to be there for them, week after week, and year after year.
Early on in her mentoring journey, Ms. Sandy spent the course of a school year slowly building trust with a scholar she mentored one-on-one. “Whenever she walked into the cafeteria, it was almost like she was anticipating that I wasn’t going to be there. And then when she would spot me, her whole expression changed,” remembers Ms. Sandy.
Through intentional relationship-building, Ms. Sandy’s scholar began to let her guard down and share more about herself.
“That is part of the mentoring process: forging relationships that make scholars feel comfortable enough to open up and have conversations.”
The lasting relationships Ms. Sandy builds with scholars are among the most meaningful parts of mentoring for her. She keeps in touch with several former scholars, celebrating their accomplishments and cheering them on as they pursue their goals. Ms. Sandy remains close with a former scholar who recently spoke at a Higher Achievement graduation ceremony and is now thriving in college. She also stays connected with other alumni, from young entrepreneurs growing creative businesses to graduates succeeding in high school and beyond.
“It is always inspiring to me to see scholars leave the program and become successful.”
Ms. Sandy recognizes that mentors do not always get to see the full impact of their efforts, but she thinks of mentoring as an act of planting seeds. “We may never see how, or if, that seed blossoms. We just have to hope that at some point it continues to be nurtured.”
After years of mentoring, she has seen enough examples to know that those seeds matter. Former scholars return to share their achievements, reach out to stay connected, and reflect on lessons they continue to carry with them. Those moments remind her why she keeps coming back.
When mentors like Ms. Sandy make a commitment to show up, to listen, and to encourage, the seeds they plant take root and flourish.
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