Liz joined Apex at a moment when she had the capacity to volunteer consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was getting to a point in my career where I had more weekends,\u201d she said. \u201cI could actually show up and be present.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She started at PS 124 in Apex\u2019s Elementary School Program and later supported multiple programs as her involvement deepened. What stood out to her early on was Apex\u2019s approach to mentorship, one that prioritized relationships, community, and mutual learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz was matched with her mentee, Kylie, when Kylie was in sixth grade. They were originally paired them because they were “athletic, full of energy, and loved dogs.” Four years later, Kylie is now a high school sophomore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKylie wanted to meet Muggsy Bogues (my rescued Boston Terrier), and I think that helped open up our relationship since we both love animals! We both have gregarious personalities, so it helped that we were able to match each other\u2019s energy.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a small cohort of youth and mentors who have moved through the programs together, documented in group photos taken each year. The most visible changes are physical \u2013 height, posture, confidence – but Liz notes that the bigger changes are less obvious and more meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s strengthened our relationship is the community we\u2019ve built with other Apex pairs, some of whom we\u2019ve known since 6th grade. We see each other beyond workshops \u2014 visiting places like the Liberty Science Center, Escape the Room, and Beat the Bomb. These moments have deepened our pair’s sense of family and community. I\u2019m excited to see this continue to grow for both mentees and mentors, and I\u2019m so fortunate to be paired with Kylie.\u201d <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentorship at Apex, she believes, works best when more than one trusted adult surrounds youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen volunteers know each other well, youth feel that,\u201d she said. \u201cIt creates a stronger support system and a greater sense of safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kylie, now a student-athlete and track team captain, approaches new experiences with confidence and curiosity. Liz credits both Kylie\u2019s personality and the environments created through Apex\u2019s programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of their most meaningful experiences came during Kylie\u2019s ninth-grade year-end project, when she chose to attend a peaceful protest and research the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The project connected current events with broader lessons about history, identity, and global context \u2014 topics Kylie was also encountering through Apex programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their presentation later received the most votes from peers and mentors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat stayed with me wasn\u2019t the recognition,\u201d Elizabeth said. \u201cIt was seeing how curious people were and how willing they were to engage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz later joined Apex\u2019s Associate Board, a space she describes as focused on supporting volunteers. \u201cThe Associate Board creates community outside of programming,\u201d she said. \u201cIt gives volunteers space to learn from each other and build relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n During her time on the board, Liz co-led Book Club and helped develop Identity Development, a volunteer-led curriculum exploring personal history, identity, and belonging. The program drew from academic resources, lived experience, and guidance from mental health professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sessions became a space for reflection during a period marked by global conflict, political change, and heightened community stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to measure the impact of those conversations,\u201d Liz said. \u201cBut they change how people show up, for youth and for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz\u2019s biggest takeaway from her time at Apex is patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn a world built around speed and instant results, Apex reminds you that change takes time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She emphasizes that mentorship is not about checking off hours, but about committing to relationships, even when progress feels slow or invisible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She also values being in a space where people actively live their values, not just talk about them. \u201cThere\u2019s something powerful about being around people who are trying, even imperfectly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though Liz has stepped off the Associate Board, she continues to serve on Apex\u2019s Cornerstone Council and remains actively involved as a mentor. She is optimistic about Apex\u2019s future and the organization\u2019s commitment to growth, reflection, and community partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve gained far more from the youth, my peers, Apex staff, and the broader community than I could ever give. While mentors guide and support mentees, I, too have been guided, supported, and changed. This is what building an intergenerational community means: Hope not just for the next generation, but for the one we live in now.\u201d <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interested in volunteering with Apex for Youth? Learn more \u098f\u0996\u09be\u09a8\u09c7<\/a>. From middle school to high school, one mentor\u2019s long-term commitment shows how relationships grow at Apex for Youth.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":20530,"template":"","class_list":["post-20528","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"](\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_5591-preview-1300x975.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMentorship Over Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_0096-1300x975.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLeadership and the Associate Board<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_AcesforApex_250726-205-1300x867.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat She\u2019s Learned<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u09b8\u09be\u09ae\u09a8\u09c7\u09b0 \u09a6\u09bf\u0995\u09c7 \u09a4\u09be\u0995\u09be\u09a8\u09cb<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Follow us on \u0987\u09a8\u09b8\u09cd\u099f\u09be\u0997\u09cd\u09b0\u09be\u09ae<\/a> for updates. Volunteer applications open in March.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"