This school year, all New York City students are participating in in-person learning and our mentors are ready to help them transition back to the classroom and BUILD.
BUILD mentor, Sebastian Hooker is eager to reconnect with his students once again this school year. “I am looking forward to seeing the students. During my time as a mentor, I have witnessed students really grow and come out of their shells. In particular, two students [come to mind and they] have reached out already asking if I will be returning to BUILD as their mentor. I am excited to see how these two students and all the BUILD students I mentor will continue to grow this year,” says Sebastian.
Having served as BUILD mentor at BETA for the past two years, Sebastian can attest to the resilience of BUILD students and their ability to transform challenges into learning opportunities. “As a result of COVD-19, this past year was a jarring experience for many students, but it was also an opportunity for them to learn new skills as they moved away from developing physical products to creating digital apps. It was awesome to see students really take an interest in digital product development. I am excited to help them break into digital companies by helping them apply what they have learned to their college applications and job interviews.”
Caring and dedicated mentors, like Sebastian, are at the core of the BUILD program as they help our students expand not only their skills, but their perspective on life and future ambitions. Students and mentors form deep, authentic two-way relationships that bridge communities to foster greater understanding and empathy.
As Sebastian explains, “I think all mentors see themselves in BUILD students. I remember being a teenager interested in learning about things that were outside of the classroom curriculum. I also remember feeling frustrated that adults never took my ideas seriously given my age. I saw my young age as something that held me back. As a BUILD mentor, I have the opportunity to encourage and help young people test-run their ideas. BUILD is a practice run for young entrepreneurs – their chance to gain the skills and experience they will need to succeed in a high-stakes, make-or-break environment.”
With the support of Sebastian and all our BUILD mentors, students this year will have the chance to reach their fullest-potential and prepare for a brighter future.
