Big Brothers Big Sisters’ celebration of National Mentoring Month continued with Workplace Mentoring! The nonprofit hosted matches from eight OC corporate mentoring sites for a special visit at the office. 

To start off the inspirational program, keynote presenter and WE Day ambassador Khiry Johnson spoke about the power of mentoring. Most importantly, he told students how it has helped youth like himself defy odds to become first generation college students.

Matches also shared their own Workplace Mentoring stories and memories. Little Brother Juan, a senior at Katella High School, thanked his BUNZL mentor Scot Gregory for an incredible three years. 

“When I got into Big Brothers Big Sisters my freshman year, it was a new experience for me,” Juan said. “I met Scot, my new mentor. He is a really nice guy. He’s always there for me, always teaching me about college and getting a job, doing well in school, how to start a business.

“I told him my passion, how I want to be a surgeon and study human biology and go to my dream college, UCI. He told me that was really amazing and that I should pursue it,” Juan continued. “When I’m with Scott, I always feel motivated. I feel like I can depend on him, almost how I depend on my parents. During school, I’m always alone. With him, I have someone that I can count on, someone that I can look up to. I want to take that experience and be a mentor, too, so I can have someone look up to me as much as I look up to Scot.”

Workplace Mentoring matches meet once a month at corporate headquarters, following a curriculum that helps students create long-term goals, prepare for higher education and future careers, and develop their self-confidence.