Mentors Mentor Mentees

“The little guys are always watching” is a phrase embedded in the mind of the Gilman Upper Schooler. It reminds us that we need to be good examples for the younger students and help them become Gilman men of character and honor. One of the newest and simultaneously oldest ways that we, as Upper Schoolers, can accomplish this is through the new mentorship program, led by Dr. Joseph Valentine-White, Director of the Finney-Greene program and Associate Director of CIE, in the CIE office.

The mentorship program pairs one to two upperclassmen with a lowerclassman, allowing these upperclassmen to serve as mentors. The program was inspired by another Gilman mentorship program from the 90s, in which Dr. Valentine-White was a mentee. Through regular meetings with their mentors, Gilman Lower Schoolers will have the opportunity to learn from the wisdom of upperclassmen, who will share their experiences at Gilman. In turn, mentors will build a relationship with the lower schoolers and provide support throughout their time at the school. Dr. Valentine White experienced this process firsthand as a mentee and eventual mentor: “My mentor when I was in first grade was a traveling man. When I got to high school, I wanted to be a traveling man. He was president of the school. When I got to high school, I got involved in student government.” 

Along with providing inspiration in terms of interests for their mentees, mentors will also help to instill the very values and principles of Gilman simply through their behavior. As many students can recall from when they were in elementary school, upperclassmen’s words and actions tend to hold even more weight than the words of adults. If this influence is used positively, it can significantly improve a student’s outcome. 

The mentorship program has roughly 25 upperclassmen mentors this year, who have met multiple times during Wednesday mornings or lunch. During these sessions, mentors are trained in their roles. However, actual meetings with their mentees will be much more personalized and will vary in time, as mentors will aim to meet their mentees once a week to check in and get to know them better. Mentors will connect with their mentees through shared interests and help with schoolwork. They will also encourage lower students to improve their character and attitude. In terms of mentee selection, the program aims to support those who require additional assistance and help them to feel part of the community. So far, the program has been a great success for both mentors and mentees alike. One mentor, Vincent Wu ‘27, gave a glowing review of his first few sessions: “It was very satisfying to be able to connect with somebody younger on that kind of level. I can see why people want to become teachers.”

The program’s central goal is to help further strengthen the community spirit of Gilman. As Dr. Valentine White describes it, “The mentorship program played such a significant role in my Gilman experience that I want to help, as much as I can, the next generation of Gilman students, both mentor and mentees, to have a positive experience and to give back.” 

Looking to the future, the program aims to strengthen ties between alumni and foster greater continuity in the Gilman identity. The mentorship program will undoubtedly have a positive impact on all aspects of the Gilman community, as it aims to further unify the school and impart valuable wisdom and inspiration to the next generation.