For the past few years, I have worked as a mentor in the Mentoring For the Future program. The program aims to bring diversity to academia by pairing students from diverse backgrounds (for example: first gen students, black, indigenous, Hispanic or other underrepresented groups) with current graduate students at Penn State. The goals are to assist them in every step of the graduate school application process. As a mentor, I guide my mentees by providing them with feedback in their application materials (SoP, CV, writing samples), crafting outreach emails, researching for additional financial help or funds, the search of graduate programs and networking. 

As of now, I have worked with students from all over the world: Kenya, Ghana, Puerto Rico, the USA, Peru, China and Mexico. Some have accepted offers of admissions in graduate programs and some others have obtained Fullbright scholarships.

I was fifteen when I immigrated to the US. This not only meant that I had to adapt and learn a whole new system but also, create my new social network, be the head of the household, work full time, attend school, serve as the family interpreter and, at the same time,  figure out my passions and career paths. A big chunk of my time was spent just day wondering what I could I go to school for.  Not to mention that I was terriefied of speaking English.

Off from my high school journey, when I enrolled college, I wanted to give back by helping immigrant high school students with their college applications.