Hi everyone! My name is Grace. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020. I was a Political Science major, and am currently working as a Marketing Coordinator at an adventure travel company. But beyond my day job - I’m a mentor with Area Youth Ministry, or AYM, a non-profit focused on raising up the next generation. 

Today, I want to share with you the story of how I became a mentor and why it holds such a special place in my heart. 

Me in High School

Back when I was in high school at Oakland High, I was a student bursting with passion and big ideas to improve my community.

But there was something always holding me back-shyness. It was in those pivotal moments that I was fortunate to have incredible teachers and mentors who believed in me, invested in my growth, and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. 

I became someone who enjoyed rallying people together in my community. With my peers, I learned to use my voice and express my opinions, and became active in advocacy and social issues that affected my community. On the weekdays, I dedicated my weekdays to empowering others, giving talks and leading workshops to our community.

Looking back, I realize just how much my mentors’ guidance shaped my life and give me the confidence I have today. They're the reason I mentor high schoolers!

Me in College

Fast forward to my college years at UC Berkeley. I have been very blessed with so many mentors in my life both in academics and in my spiritual life over the past few years. I have received countless advice, encouragements, and prayers in various stages of my life. One example is when I was in college, I was struggling really hard articulating some of the things I was going through. It was one of the most confusing times of my life. One concrete way that my mentor helped me was to think about my decisions and to be emotionally resilient. She also brought me over to her home and cooked for me.

This time period is still one of the pivotal moments in my life. I want to be a mentor because of people like her who invested in me. I want to serve as an older sister to the younger ones and help provide some guidance and tools to navigate this crazy world.

High schoolers like you deserve someone by your side, navigating the highs and lows of life together. And you’ve come to the right place because AYM Thrive offers a unique opportunity to support, guide, and inspire young people just like you!

Life as a Mentor

Area Youth Ministry (AYM) is a nationwide Christian youth organization. My friends and I here are passionate in connecting, equipping, and empowering high school students on their faith and high school journeys. Currently, we serve  24+ cities around the US.

What is Thrive Mentorship?

So, what exactly do we does AYM offer? AYM Thrive is free, personalized mentorship we offer high schoolers everywhere. 

We believe that you, as young people, are the leaders of our future. You can powerfully impact your communities, churches, and campuses today, and we want to provide resources to equip and empower you... And if you're a Christ-follower, we want to help build your faith in Jesus Christ. 

Through the mentorship program, you will:

• Get paired up with mentors who are current college students or recent alumni 

• Pick topics that suits your interest and needs the most, such as college essentials, next-level leadership, productivity hacks, identity & purpose, exploring Christianity, and How-to-Bible.

How long is each mentorship?

Each mentorship session is usually 30-45 minutes per week. The schedule is flexible, so it can work around you depending on your schedule. 
Whether you want to learn more about certain topics, get ahead in college prep, or simply want a listening ear and ask all the questions you have about life, or want a real challenge in basketball -- AYM mentors will take you on!

If this is something that sounds interesting to you, you can go to areayouth.org/thrive today and get plugged into a mentorship. Hope to see you at Thrive!