I'm a team member of: The Brew Squad

As I stood in front of my mentee's foster home I was surprised by how nervous I felt to meet an 11-year-old. During our match meeting I smiled aggressively and asked my new mentee a ton of questions. I left feeling awkward, but hopeful for the future of our relationship.

In the coming weeks my mentee opened up. My mentee shared stories of her friends & her teachers as I accompanied her on many 'firsts': her first Starbucks drink and her first time tasting sushi. While we enjoyed plenty of adventures during the first year of our relationship (going to the circus & learning how to DJ), the quieter moments stick with me the most: the laughs at Chipotle when my mentee ordered two whopping scoops of sour cream in her burrito bowl, turning her dinner into a white lake with the occasional piece of steak; the meaningful talks at her neighborhood playground while making friendship bracelets; and discussing politics, through the eyes of a middle schooler, on the grounds of the Washington Monument. 

When I celebrated my two year match-iversary with my mentee in February, I reflected on the depth of our relationship. My mentee has pushed me to take on 'firsts' of my own: she introduced me to pho, and more importantly, how to eat pho while still looking cool; she challenged me to be brave during scary moves, even if I needed to cover my eyes sometimes; and she's kept me relevant, because without her I'd probably still be clueless about TikTok. 

I regularly tell people that mentoring through BEST Kids is the best decision I've made in my adult life. Not only did BEST Kids introduce me to one of my favorite people, but also connected me with a world-class support team. The BEST Kids staff works tirelessly to individually support mentors & mentees, and deliver age-appropriate programming backed by research best practices for foster youth development. 

In a time of uncertainty and fear, I harken back to the foundation of the BEST Kids program: enriching & committed relationships, no matter the circumstances. As we look forward to May, National Foster Care Month, I invite you to support BEST Kids with a donation to their virtual Super Hero 5K. Thank you for your generosity.