What Long-Term Mentorship Actually Looks Like

Elizabeth (“Liz”) Yan has been volunteering with Apex for Youth since around 2020. She began in the Elementary School Program, later joined the Associate Board, and has now mentored Kylie from sixth grade into tenth grade. Though she has since stepped off the Associate Board, she continues to serve on the Cornerstone Council and remains an active mentor.

For Liz, Apex has never been about a single role – it’s been about staying connected, growing alongside youth, and committing to relationships over time.

Why Liz Joined Apex

Liz joined Apex at a moment when she had the capacity to volunteer consistently.

“I was getting to a point in my career where I had more weekends,” she said. “I could actually show up and be present.”

She started at PS 124 in Apex’s Elementary School Program and later supported multiple programs as her involvement deepened. What stood out to her early on was Apex’s approach to mentorship, one that prioritized relationships, community, and mutual learning.

Mentorship Over Time

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.

“Kylie 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’s energy.”  

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 – height, posture, confidence – but Liz notes that the bigger changes are less obvious and more meaningful.

“What’s strengthened our relationship is the community we’ve built with other Apex pairs, some of whom we’ve known since 6th grade. We see each other beyond workshops — 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’m excited to see this continue to grow for both mentees and mentors, and I’m so fortunate to be paired with Kylie.”  

Mentorship at Apex, she believes, works best when more than one trusted adult surrounds youth.

“When volunteers know each other well, youth feel that,” she said. “It creates a stronger support system and a greater sense of safety.”

Kylie, now a student-athlete and track team captain, approaches new experiences with confidence and curiosity. Liz credits both Kylie’s personality and the environments created through Apex’s programming.

One of their most meaningful experiences came during Kylie’s 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 — topics Kylie was also encountering through Apex programming.

Their presentation later received the most votes from peers and mentors.

“What stayed with me wasn’t the recognition,” Elizabeth said. “It was seeing how curious people were and how willing they were to engage.”

Leadership and the Associate Board

Liz later joined Apex’s Associate Board, a space she describes as focused on supporting volunteers. “The Associate Board creates community outside of programming,” she said. “It gives volunteers space to learn from each other and build relationships.”

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.

The sessions became a space for reflection during a period marked by global conflict, political change, and heightened community stress.

“It’s hard to measure the impact of those conversations,” Liz said. “But they change how people show up, for youth and for each other.”

What She’s Learned

Liz’s biggest takeaway from her time at Apex is patience.

“In a world built around speed and instant results, Apex reminds you that change takes time,” she said.

She emphasizes that mentorship is not about checking off hours, but about committing to relationships, even when progress feels slow or invisible.

She also values being in a space where people actively live their values, not just talk about them. “There’s something powerful about being around people who are trying, even imperfectly,” she said.

De cara al futuro

Though Liz has stepped off the Associate Board, she continues to serve on Apex’s Cornerstone Council and remains actively involved as a mentor. She is optimistic about Apex’s future and the organization’s commitment to growth, reflection, and community partnership.

“I’ve 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.”  

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