Christine and Joanna

By Mentor Christine

In the summer of 2013, my mentee Joanna was 12-years-old and going through a rough stretch, which included the tragic death of her 15-year-old cousin in a car and bike accident, a falling-out with her best friend, and the loss of her favorite aunt to cancer. Her access to recreational experiences beyond her immediate community were very limited, and she was feeling pretty lonely at home. Add the stress of family money issues and struggling with body image, and Joanna knew she needed someone older (I like to think wiser) to confide in. 

“Seeing her get emotional holding my firstborn for the first time was a moment I won’t forget.”

I had always enjoyed teaching and mentoring kids who were Joanna’s age, and I was looking for an effective and meaningful way to do that, so when I learned about Friends For Youth’s amazing work and mentoring education efforts in the Bay Area, I knew this was my opportunity.

When Joanna and I met, it was friendship at first sight. I felt pretty well-versed in her interests of nails, music, fashion, and social media, and Joanna was easygoing and communicative, openly sharing the struggles she was going through. Around the same time, my dad passed away from liver cancer, and after I returned from an extended leave back in Chicago, Joanna was there with a welcome back balloon and handmade poster. Within months of our friendship, we could be a comfort to each other in a similarly difficult time.  

From visiting museums to trying new restaurants, from hiking to volunteering, from touring San Francisco to strolling around Stanford—it has been a joy and honor to be a part of broadening Joanna’s cultural experiences. And though these special outings are always great, some of the best times have been when we’re just running errands together, where we get to catch up and laugh and talk about the latest things Joanna is into. I was thrilled when she became obsessed with reading for leisure after I had gifted her a novel for her birthday. At the same time, Joanna keeps me young! She introduces me to new music, updates me on celebrity news and fashion, and functions as my social media mentor (I’m now on Snapchat).

Joanna has seen me go from 0 to 3 kids and has been a part of so many key moments of this life transition. She came to my baby shower, visited me in the hospital, and babysat for a date night. I even attended her 8th grade play while I was in the early stages of labor! Seeing her get emotional holding my firstborn for the first time was a moment I won’t forget.

Our friendship is 7 years strong, and Joanna is becoming an EMT. She has a good head and a giving heart, and I can’t wait to see how her story unfolds.

I’m happy to be a part of it and I’m thankful that she is a part of mine.