Just started college? Looking for advice and mentorship? I am excited to announce the launch of my college mentorship program!
As a first-generation college graduate, I know the challenges of navigating college. During my senior year as I prepared to graduate, I know I wanted to help other students be successful in college and that is when the idea to create this program came to mind. This mentorship program is a passion project aimed to give back by providing support, sharing lessons learned, and working with my mentees to strengthen skills and achieve goals.
About me and why I want to be a mentor
Born and raised in Saint Martin, I am a proud West Indian who immigrated to Maryland, United States with her family in 2013 to pursue education. I graduated in May 2021 Magna Cum Laude with a 3.97 GPA from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology and Genetics and a Minor in French.
While at the University of Maryland, I earned the Banneker/Key Scholar full academic scholarship and participated in the Gemstone Honors Program where I completed a research thesis. Within the Gemstone Honors Program, I took on several roles such as becoming the first Vice-President of Outreach where I focused on diversity and inclusion efforts. Passionate about helping other students, I served as a tutor for Organic Chemistry and a Supplemental Instructor for biology with the Academic Achievement Program. I served as President of the Charles R Drew Pre-Health Society, where I had previous roles as Secretary and Vice-President. I served on the CMNS Diversity and Inclusion Board and two years as a cabinet member for the Caribbean Student Association. I completed an internship at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, and a study abroad program in Montpellier, France.
Due to my academic performance and contributions to campus, I was selected for membership into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and Maryland’s Medallion Society. I won the Model Citizen Award and was Finalist for the University Medal, two of the most prestigious awards for a graduating senior.
Following graduation, I joined the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institute of Health as a Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Trainee. As part of my lab, I am working in the clinical team focused on understanding how genetic variation in alpha-globin gene copy number modifies the severity of vascular complications of sickle cell disease and malaria. Additionally, I am a 2021-2022 National Future Leadership Project Fellow, a prestigious program in the Student National Medical Association (SNMA).
Now I want to help other students follow their passions and achieve their goals through their college journey.
What is the program?
This program is a way for me to mentor up to ten first-year college students with specific structure in place for the mentor-mentee relationship. I know that forming mentoring relationships and knowing what questions to ask is difficult as a first-year student and so this program is really to help give students a head-start on important college advice and the tools on how to seek mentors in the future.
Who is this program for?
This program is for first-year college students. Passionate about helping Caribbean students, minority, and first-generation students there will be priority given to students of these backgrounds. As a medical school applicant, I am also able to give advice and mentorship for those on the pre-medical track. If you or a student you know is in college and wants some guidance from a recent college graduate, then you should sign up!
Program components
This program consists of 1-1 meetings, workshops, connections to fellow students, and access to special resources. Mentees will have access to a password protected page on my blog where they can schedule meetings with me and have access to helpful resources such as study videos I found helpful, workshop PowerPoints, and more.
The workshops will be held on zoom and open for anyone to attend.
I am really excited to be launching this mentorship program and I hope you will share this opportunity with a first-year college student you know or sign up yourself. The signup will end on Sunday September 19th 2021.
Learn more and sign up here: https://www.stylebykye.com/mentorship
xoxo,
Kye