When Mollie Kozberg was paired with her mentee Brenda two years ago in Chicago, the two were able to create a meaningful connection because of similarities in their lives.
“My relationship with my mentee, Brenda, is amazing! At first, we bonded over both coming from families of four girls, but that quickly evolved into a friendship,” said Mollie, who works at PwC.
“I think once she realized I was here to stay, she let her guard down and began confiding in me. After two short years, we continue to learn more about each other and build our relationship. I am so grateful to have met this bright, kind, talented girl at such a pivotal time in her life,” said Mollie. “She has opened my eyes to so much and I am so excited to see what next year has in store for her!”
Because of COVID-19, Mollie and Brenda are communicating only through weekly text conversations on iMentor’s platform. Mollie explains the importance of staying connected right now: “As it relates to Brenda and her timeline of finishing high school and preparing for college, I have found I have been most helpful to her in navigating the financial aid and college enrollment process, and specifically, helping her leverage resources available to her.”
When Brenda received a financial aid package this spring, Mollie worked with Brenda and her guidance counselor to make sure the package was reflected correctly in her City Colleges of Chicago student portal. When Brenda completed her placement tests in math and English, she worked with Mollie to make sure her records were accurate so she could register for fall classes.
“I cannot say enough good things about the iMentor program. My involvement with this program has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had since moving to Chicago and joining PwC,” adds Mollie. “The work this program does and the impact it has on thousands of students in underserved communities across the US speaks for itself. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of it!”
