Meet Kaitlyn: A Middle School Mentor Building Community in Brooklyn

Kaitlyn was named Volunteer of the Year in Apex for Youth‘s Middle School Mentoring Program in Brooklyn. As a middle school youth mentor, she doesn’t just show up for her own mentee. She’s become someone the entire cohort counts on, from organizing a group gift exchange for the mentees to making sure every pair in her group feels included.

Emily Chow, Middle School Mentoring Program Manager in Brooklyn, says Kaitlyn exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond.

 “She is not only attentive to her own mentee but also a community builder, always ensuring pairs and mentees in her group feel included and engaged in activities. She also organized cohort-wide activities for both mentors and mentees, including coordinating with all volunteers and staff to host a white-elephant gift exchange for mentees at the December workshop.”

Chow adds that Kaitlyn and her mentee, Emily, have formed a really close bond over the past two years. One thing that demonstrates their close relationship is Emily, her mentee, telling other mentors that she will always make time to hang out with Kaitlyn, no matter how much schoolwork she has. “It’s been an honor to have Kaitlyn in our program, and I’m so happy to continue to have Kaitlyn in MSMP BK as a role model for all of us,” she says.

Why She Started 

Kaitlyn is a Chinese American who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and attended university in Boston. Upon graduating, she moved to New York and has called NYC her home ever since. She has volunteered with the Brooklyn Middle School Mentorship program for the past two years.

Kaitlyn recognizes her privilege in having resources and support growing up and wants to be that support for those who don’t have it. “My parents really supported me literally and figuratively,” she says. “I always knew I could go to them for help with anything, but I know that’s not always the case in Asian American culture. I wanted to volunteer in a mentorship capacity for kids who maybe didn’t have that resource.” She wanted to offer the same steadiness to kids who might not have it at home or elsewhere. After a colleague mentioned Apex at work, and with the coincidence of her high school best friend donating, Kaitlyn decided to join.

What Mentorship Has Given Her

As someone who works in finance, a field where it is easy to lose touch with reality, Kaitlyn says, “It’s really easy to become disconnected from what truly matters in life, such as building relationships, living in the present, and showing grace.” She notes that her cohort has consistently helped her regain this perspective.

She feels especially grateful to be surrounded by a variety of personalities among mentors and mentees alike. “I’ve been really lucky that my groups have been AMAZING (shout out to Caterpillars and Fruits Basket). We’ve truly gotten to know each other in both workshops and outside of them,” she says. Watching these relationships deepen over the year, both during the workshops and beyond, has been a highlight of her experience in the program.

Why Middle School Mentorship Matters

Kaitlyn sees middle school as a critical, pivotal window in growing up. “These kids are figuring out who they are AND who they want to be,” she says, and “there is a lot of pressure both internally and externally.” While parents often want what’s best for their kids, “sometimes, it’s not as easy for kids to go to their parents,” she says. “They need a trusted adult to let loose and be themselves and figure out who they are. I also think that Apex mentors can be a consistent and trusted role model outside of parents as well.”

Her Advice for Future Volunteers

Kaitlyn’s advice to future volunteers is simple: just do it. “You’ll meet some amazing kids and also amazing adults as well,” she says. “Sometimes the 2-year commitment sounds like a lot, but it does really fly by, and it’s really rewarding.”

Inspired by Kaitlyn’s story? You too can make a difference. Become a tình nguyện viên with Apex for Youth and help open doors for the next generation.

Our Middle School Programs (6th-8th grade) empower students through mentorship, identity exploration, and teamwork-building opportunities. Volunteers play a crucial role in guiding and inspiring youth as they navigate these formative years, helping them build confidence, develop social-emotional skills, and strengthen their sense of community. Volunteers provide one-on-one and group mentorship, fostering meaningful relationships that support students’ personal and academic growth.