Diana’s Volunteer Story: Mentoring High School Students Through the College Application Process

At Apex for Youth, our volunteers support young people at every stage of their journey, from elementary school to college and beyond. Our College Access Program (CAP) is where volunteers help 11th and 12th-grade youth through one of the most important transitions of their lives: the shift from high school to college. Through CAP, students explore their interests and future pathways as they prepare for the college application process. They receive individualized support to navigate any barriers they may encounter during college applications, financial aid, and scholarship searches.

This year, we are proud to recognize Diana Weng as our College Access Program Volunteer of the Year for her two years of dedicated mentorship to Apex’s high school youth.

From Baruch Classrooms to Apex Mentoring

Diana is a Chinese American and the first in her family to be born in the U.S. She is originally from Tampa, Florida, and has lived in New York City for four years, where she worked as an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Baruch College-CUNY. For the past two years, she has volunteered with Apex’s College Access Program. She is moving back to Tampa, Florida, to work as an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of South Florida and will fly back to finish this College Access Program cycle with her youth. 

Diana’s path to Apex started with mentoring her own college students. “I mentor my Baruch students, who are juniors in college. I thought maybe I could make an even bigger impact at earlier critical forks in the road, so I searched for opportunities to help high school students.” What keeps her coming back, she says, are, “those little moments that can’t be planned, the ones where you really connect with the kids, when they open up to you, the ones that can only happen through repeat experiences, especially in person. It doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, it reminds me why I volunteer.”

The Moments That Matter Most

For Diana, the clearest sign that her presence matters is simple: “Whenever one of my mentees opens up to me.”

Working with high schoolers, she says, has a way of making time fly. “I often forget my age. Volunteering with high school kids reminds me of myself when I was in high school, then I realize how long ago it was and how much I’ve changed since then.”

Volunteering Gives Life Meaning

Diana says volunteering reflects the life she wants to live. “One of the reasons I volunteer is I want my life to have meaning. I want to feel good about how I am living my life and to make a positive impact on others. Volunteering feels very much in alignment with my values, so it makes me feel at peace and complete.”

The Hidden Curriculum

When asked why mentorship is important, Diana points to many things students worry about: the unwritten rules and the fact that there truly is no book on how to navigate college properly. “When you enter a new space, there are all these unwritten rules that nobody tells you, but you’re somehow expected to know them,” she says. “Not only did I not know the hidden curriculum, I also wasn’t even aware it existed. To me, part of mentorship is someone who will tell you what others won’t.”

That mindset has also shaped how Diana approaches each student and their journey individually. “Every one of my kids is so different, both from each other and from me,” she says. “What this has taught me is to let go of my view of the world and what I think is the ‘right path’ to help them find what is best for them. What is “right” might only be right for me.”

Advice for Future Volunteers

Diana’s advice for prospective volunteers is simple: show up because it matters to you, not because you are trying to impress job recruiters. “Volunteer because it matters to you,” she says. “If it’s for a line on the resume, you might not consistently be there, and I mean both physically and mentally. The kids deserve more than that.”

A Heartfelt Acknowledgment

Jia-Ming Tuan, High School Opportunities Manager, shares Diana’s dedication,

“I am incredibly excited to present CAP’s volunteer of the year award to Diana, who has been the most amazing college guide to three of our youth over the past two years and the most helpful volunteer that staff could ask for! Diana’s open communication, determination to see her students succeed, overwhelming kindness, and generosity stand out in CAP. Last year, Diana’s student joined our program with no college application knowledge and lots of anxiety, but he graduated our program showing immense growth and appreciation for Diana’s support, which he bravely voiced in his senior speech. This year, Diana has spent extra time outside of our workshops to cultivate truly transformative relationships with her two new youth by taking them out for fun events and working on outside applications with them. We are truly grateful for Diana’s dedication and incredible heart. Diana, please come up to accept CAP’s VOTY award!”

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