Sophia is proud that each fifth grader has now been matched with a mentor! Each mentor/mentee pair meets once a week and each visit is as unique as the hobbies and interests of the pair. This results in a myriad of activities that target social/emotional wellbeing and academic success.
“It is so important for our students to have positive relationships with adults that are not only Sophia staff,” said Angie Duran, director of the mentoring program. “Having a relationship with an adult that is a non-Sophia employee provides our students the opportunity to know that they are surrounded by people who care about them through their day to day challenges and successes – letting them know they matter.”
Sophia mentors are community members, community advocates, business women, Sophia alum, former Sophia parents, and more; showing our students that there are many ways to be successful and invested in the community.
Jen Potter, a mentor of seven years at Sophia, got involved through her employer, Dassault Systems. The company was looking for an opportunity to make an impact on local women and girls in the community, and supported Jen’s suggestion of Sophia.
“When I first took a tour of the school, I had a magical feeling when I walked in the doors. As I met the girls, they exuded a sense of confidence, joy, and community that was so special. It immediately made me want to be a part of this community,” Jen remembers.
Since her first mentee has graduated, Jen now mentors seventh-grader Alice. Her relationships with both mentees have had a significant impact on her life, and she keeps in regular contact with both students. Her encouragement to anyone considering mentoring:
“Do it. The opportunity to work with these girls is extraordinary. The school is extraordinary. Being a part of this community provides you with a sense of being part of something larger than yourself. When you do get involved, you’ll want to share with others and expand the community to local women, companies, organizations and get more people involved in order to contribute to the sustainability of the school.”
“Having a relationship with an adult that is a non-Sophia employee provides our students the opportunity to know that they are surrounded by people who care about them through their day to day challenges and successes – letting them know they matter.”
The mission of Sophia is greatly enhanced by our volunteer mentors, and we cannot thank them enough. According to the National Mentoring Partnership, students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school, and mentored youth are 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities. “Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity”, as explained on the Mentoring.org website.
As each new class of fifth graders enters Sophia, they will be matched with a mentor with similar interests and skills. The goal of Sophia Academy is that in just a few years, each student will have a mentor to provide stability, inspiration and encouragement to dare to dream.
To inquire about mentoring at Sophia Academy, please use our inquiry form located here.