“I was matched with my mentee in September 2019. She attended a transitional school for a few years, as her anxiety posed great difficulties continuing on with her peers in a regular school setting. We bonded instantly and conversed easily about anything from politics to life skills. She is one of the most intelligent young people I’ve ever known. She began transitioning back to her old school about 45 minutes away from where I live, and I was unsure if she would want to continue seeing me. Around Christmas time, she asked me if I would be willing to continue seeing her. Without hesitation, I said yes. For our last visit before the Christmas break, I was asked if I could meet her at the high school for about an hour and a half – two hours, as she was preparing for her full transition back in the new year. I went, and we chatted in an office in student services, before parting ways and wishing each other a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. On Christmas Eve, sitting around the table with friends and family, my mom handed me a box and told us a story. It had turned out that my mentee had been telling her parents about me and they both knew who my mom was, as she works as a retail manager near them. My mentee’s mom found my mom on Facebook and messaged her, explaining that my mentee had a small gift for me, and was quite upset that she had forgotten to give it to me on our last meet. She told my mom that everything I had been doing for her daughter meant so much to all of them, especially my driving to her high school to aid in her transition. They dropped the gift off at my mom’s store for her to give to me. My mother was tearing up as she told everyone the story, and I have to say that that was one of the best Christmas gifts I have ever received.”
