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MENTOR TESTIMONIALS
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
“Thank you both for the opportunity. Lizbeth was wonderful to mentor and is very excited to have found the direction she believes she wants to go in the future. She is so sweet and talented, I have no doubt that she will succeed in either her want to be a teacher, social worker and/or tutor.”
Kelli Trombley, Director of Business Relations, LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce
You never really know how much you can influence a young person’s life until you have the opportunity to mentor them through some pivotal moments of their lives. However, the best part about being a Kollab mentor is how rewarding it has been for me and how much I’ve learned from my mentees. Nothing makes me happier than hearing from my previous mentees about the amazing things they’re doing now. I’m very thankful that this program exists and that I can continue to be a part of it! Haneen Khalaf, XPrize
“The program is a powerful service to the community. I remember going to the boys and girls club when I was a kid and it still holds a special place in my heart. I find it very rewarding to be able to mentor the youth via the Kollab program.” Dylan Watkins, Founder/CEO , Reality Smash
The Kollab mentoring is one of the most meaningful acts I have undertaken during they pandemic. Working with these kids inspired me and gave me hope for a bright future. Their ambition and goodness as human beings, yes goodness, was apparent since the beginning. I could see growth and serious intention throughout. Thank you Kollab for giving me this opportunity to believe in the strength of a new generation during this difficult time. Gary Wexler, Professor, USC
“Being a Kollab mentor has been tremendously rewarding. My mentees started the program eagerly with curiosity and by the end were asking in depth questions from their master class teachers and peers. They took advantage of all Kollab opportunities such as applying for competitive internships and built a network of professionals to help them navigate their career paths ahead. I am confident they are on their way to fulfilling their dreams and I am committed to being a resource for them along the way.” Suzanne Shepard McGarry, Resource Development Consultant, Pacific Youth Foundation
“I had a great opportunity with my mentee, Ana C. She is very interested in a career in the medical field. I was able to support her current track in high school and offer her advice.
She is smart, motivated and composed with high integrity. I was able to connect her with one of my colleagues who specializes in a field she is interested in pursuing. Our interaction is so good that she wants to continue our mentorship process: so we have agreed to continue meeting virtually every month or so.” Jateen Prema, MD FACS, Vascular Surgeon at Kaiser Permanente
YOUTH TESTIMONIALS
MY MENTOR
“My mentors shared so much of their insight, but I think the best advice they shared with me is to fail often and be motivated to fail because failures can be the greatest teachers. It's one thing to read about something from a textbook, but it doesn't have the same impact as experiencing something first hand. Whenever you fail you need to think about what the lessons were that you need to learn. Failing often can also provide you with insight on what worked and didn't work, and by understanding that you'll know how to improve for the next time. Being part of an amazing, supportive community that is the Kollab program has impacted me in many ways. It has opened my eyes to the idea that there are opportunities all around me. Especially now with how the world is today, seeing all the opportunities can be hard, but choosing to be part of this program at this point in time was one of the best decisions I made for myself. I get to pick the brains of successful people from many different fields to broaden my understanding of the real world to set myself up for future success. I think I am incredibly fortunate to be paired up with two amazing mentors, Guillermo and Andrea. They've bestowed upon me insight from their years of experience with people, business, and college among other things. From our brief time together, I learned about the importance of marketing myself, personal branding, and how to win the day by setting goals for myself.” Raymond B.
The Kollab program has helped me in so many ways that I could have never imagined. I have received so much help from the mentors I had in Kollab. One of my mentors helped me apply to college and guided me through the whole process. Another mentor helped opened up my viewpoint on what it means to be a lawyer. Both of my mentors gave me many life tips, such as to always ask questions and never be afraid to express who I am. I'm very grateful to have received help from my mentors. Also, the Kollab program helped me gain more confidence through the master class sessions. I learned how to have a professional conversation with professionals in their field. Through gaining new skills and more confidence helped me land an internship at Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez Council District 7, Youth Council. Ava A,
Hello, my name is Ileana S. and I am 16 years old. Kollab has been a very helpful and impactful program for me. As for many high school students, we catch ourselves asking the same question, “What do I really wanna do when I grow up”. I was in a loop of thinking and trying to find out what I wanted to do. Then I saw a flyer to join the Spring Kollab program and gave it a try. I have to say, it was one of the most greatest things i’ve done. Kollab allowed me to explore many career fields and connect with many successful people. I also had an amazing mentor, Mr. Tony Sher who was a franchisee at Sharky’s in Marina Del Rey. He is a very kind and thoughtful guy. We would talk once a week and discuss many aspects of careers and what they intake. Leadership, communication, patience and more. He helped me discover that I was very interested in management and helping the community. Since Mr. Tony Sher was connected with Kollab, he gave me the opportunity to experience how management and the food industry worked by giving me an internship at one of Sharky’s sites. I was extremely excited since it was my first job. He was able to help me review my very first résumé and set up a job interview so I can go through the whole experience. Once i started working, I was lucky to work with such amazing people. I learned many skills like customer service, responsibility, patience and multitasking. My managers not only took the time to train me and guide me, but also took the time to get to know me. Working at Sharky’s felt like working with a family. One thing I’ve learned from my coworkers is, not only do jobs give you income, but also surrounds you with challenges, knowledge, wisdom and with people who care. I am very grateful and lucky to have met and work along side the Sharky’s family. This internship helped me build more confidence in what I want to do when I grow up and I couldn’t have done it with the help of Kollab and the amazing staff, Sari, Mary and Jennifer and more. They took the time to help us reach our goals and succeed in our dreams. Kollab is the place for you!!" Ileana S.