I believe having a mentor provides valuable guidance, offering direction and support. Young people benefit greatly from positive role models.
They are not just the future but also the present, and they have potential that they might not yet recognize. Part of my role as a mentor is to help them see their strengths and show them what they can achieve.
As a mentor at Higher Achievement, I have been fortunate enough to offer support and guidance on their middle school journey. Showing young people that they are valued and heard is important to me. I believe the success I’ve had with this program is because they trust me and I listen to them. I guide them and don’t judge them, but I do call out inappropriate behavior.
I first discovered Higher Achievement at a mentor recruiting event in Alexandria back 2010.
Higher Achievement has a model that I truly believe in that says “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.” I can’t think of a better afterschool program for middle schoolers. I love that I can take a group of young people and help them navigate middle school, while helping them get ready for high school.
Something I do emphasize to every group is that although they are kids, it does not mean that they don’t have a voice or that their opinions don’t matter.
The idea that I get to work with the same group for 2-3 years is challenging and rewarding. I can actually see growth in them each year. I really believe they have a better chance at being successful in high school, getting their first job, and going to college than some of their peers who are not in this program. To me, that willingness to achieve sets them apart from the average student.
Currently, I have 8th-grade scholars who are taking part in the High School Placement process (The High School Placement program helps Scholars identify and pursue accelerated, college-preparatory programs at public, private, and parochial schools by or before the 9th Grade).
The rewards I gain make it all worthwhile. It is fun to talk with them, laugh with them, and celebrate them. I cherish the opportunity to instill a sense of pride in these young people.
It is truly fulfilling to see them embrace challenges and believe in their unlimited potential. Ultimately, every child needs a safe environment where they can simply be themselves. I am proud to be a part of that.
From scholar to mentor, community has guided every step of Jordan Dowtin-Dorsey’s path. “My time at Higher Achievement is my earliest memory of building a community outside of my family. That experience changed my trajectory in life in so many ways.” At first, the commitment to Higher Achievement seemed daunting. “It was a big adjustment for […]
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 […]
Relationships are at the heart of Higher Achievement’s impact. During weekly mentoring sessions, scholars and mentors form a connection built on trust, encouragement, and support. For 8th-grade scholar Jada and her mentor Ms. Apara, mentoring has been an opportunity to develop both academic skills and a personal bond. Jada and her peers have spent the […]
Peter Granville’s career in education policy has taught him the critical impact of the middle school years on a student’s trajectory. “Often what you’re trying to do in policy at a higher education level is remedy gaps for students that enter long before college. I’m reminded of how important it is to set up our youngest […]
Cyniah Wynn, a new college grad and Higher Achievement alum, recently returned to her former Ward 8 Achievement Center – this time as a mentor. “I always liked the program,” says Cyniah. “I loved going to Higher Achievement and I loved my mentor. I wanted to be that person for someone else.” Ms. Cyniah works […]
Connections made during mentoring can have a lasting impact. For former Higher Achievement mentors Mr. Jim and Mr. Noah, that impact was recently felt at a lunch reunion with two of their former mentees, Mikias and Kirubel. Mr. Jim and Mr. Noah mentored a group of four boys from Hammond Middle School in Alexandria from […]