The Alumni Association and Grad Support Team have been discussing building out a mentoring program for all of our current students and grads to be a part of. This January the GSP Team decided to roll out our first mentoring program with our alumni and current 8th grade class!
After both alumni and 8th graders took surveys the GSP team went through a match making process. We currently have 10 alumni mentors for our (15) 8th graders!
Each month there is a new topic of focus for example, high school discernment, Nativity experience and transitioning out of Nativity.
Here are a few mentors and mentees reflecting on the last few months of the mentoring program!
Mentors:
Jordy Melendez – Faber Class 2008
“The mentoring program has been a great experience and opportunity for me to connect with my mentee on a different level. Working at Nativity I have a student/teacher and a coach/player relationship with my mentee but the mentoring program allows me to just be a mentor and a grad. Learning from my mentee and being able to connect, and share Nativity and everyday life experiences has been exciting. I look forward to meeting with my mentee and tackling the new topics that have been created for each session. It allows us to explore and talk about a wide range of things and think outside the box. Being able to be that person my mentee can talk to about school, sports and high school and beyond has been an experience I recommend all grads to pursue. My hope is that I can continue mentoring not only through 8th grade but beyond and I believe the space and opportunity this program has given us will allow me to do so.”
Demetrius Safford – Pro Class 2011
“I love being a mentor and being able to give back to the Nativity community in this capacity. Looking back to my time at Nativity I wish I had a mentor to help guide me through not only 8th grade but beyond. Being able to share my knowledge and experiences has been very exciting. It is also rewarding to know that Nativity is able to have a mentoring program that brings back grads to connect with the younger Nativity generation and learn life lessons from each other. Being the person to give them advice and help them through these tough times as an 8th grader whether it’s with academics, high school acceptances, or just life has been a joyful experience. Lastly, being able to connect with them on a different level than just a ‘teacher’ is my favorite thing. I get the opportunity to be myself and just be a grad when mentoring.”
Marc Betancourt – Faber Class 2008
“I feel as though the mentoring program has been helpful so far as I have been able to share my own experiences from when I transitioned into high school as a former Nativity student. Establishing rapport with these young men, being able to instill confidence in them and to see the transparency in our interactions is comforting to me as this mentorship is something that not all of us older Nativity grads had access to. I believe this pairing program is not just important, but vital to the continued growth and success of our young Nativity men.”
Mentees:
Jensy – Ellacuria Class 2023
“The mentoring program has been a very good experience. It’s basically another support system for me outside of my immediate family. I am able to just talk about all different types of things whether it’s school, sports or whatever is on my mind. Honestly it’s been inspiring seeing Nativity Grads mentoring and it is now something that I want to do for younger Nativity students.”
Jariel – Ellacuria Class 2023
“The mentoring program has been something that I look forward to. I look forward to meeting with my mentor, it is an exciting and fun time being able to talk about each other’s Nativity experience. Learning about how Nativity was when it first opened but also learning about the high school transition and beyond. It has been great to be able to connect with someone that I have a lot in common with and lived through many of the same experiences.”
Shaleek – Ellacuria Class 2023
“It has been truly inspiring to see grads come to Nativity and it is something I’m inspired to do for others and excited to do. It is nice to talk to someone who’s not a teacher but still knows about Nativity and what it means to be here. I have been able to learn alot about not only myself and Nativity but also my mentor and learn new skills and advice that I can take with me forever.”
Samuel – Ellacuria Class 2023
“My mentor and experience with the mentoring program has been great. It gives me an extra person to talk to, and an extra person that I can learn from through their experience. I also enjoy talking to my mentor because a lot of his experiences are just like mine being at Nativity. I truly believe that my mentor cares about me and even at times brings me food.”