Walking the Well-Trodden Path

It can be easier to follow a path that has already been forged. With that in mind, the Virtual Mentor Program (VMP) connects RFU students with high-school and undergraduate students seeking support for their academic and career endeavors. Mentor/mentee pairs meet monthly via video chat or phone. Here, second-year Clinical Counseling program student Gabriela Barnas, CHP ’27, and local high-school junior Aniyah discuss how their connection is helping both of them achieve their goals.

Aniyah: I read about RFU’s mentoring program in a school email. I’d never heard of anything like this, and it sounded like something I wanted to try. I went for it and got my mentor, which was very nice, because you’re very nice, Gabriela! I like having someone I can talk to about school and other things.

Gabriela Barnas: Thanks! When I first heard about the VMP, I really wanted to be part of it, because I remember what it was like to be in your shoes. Wondering about school and jobs and thinking how helpful it would be to hear from someone who already had these experiences. I feel like I would have benefited a lot from this kind of experience when I was in high school or in college.

Aniyah: Yeah, that helps a lot as I’m starting to go on college visits. I know I can talk to you about how to prepare. Like, before I go on the visit, we talk through what kind of questions they might ask me and what I should ask them.

GB: Right? We talked about how applying to college is a two-way street. Yes, you’re being evaluated for acceptance to college, but you’re also evaluating them to make sure that college will be a good fit for you and your interests.

Aniyah: I hadn’t thought about it that way. At first I thought about going into dentistry, but I’m also seeing what other health careers are out there. You definitely helped me feel more confident about speaking to people. I would get 
so nervous!

GB: I’m so glad that helped you! And you’re helping me build my mentoring style. In psychology, you start out as a mentee. You have a supervisor as you begin working with clients, and you meet with your supervisor to talk through how things are going. Kind of like what you and I do, Aniyah. I hope to be in that supervisor role eventually, using what I’ve learned from being your mentor, and what I’ve learned from my RFU faculty mentor, Dr. Rachel Greenley, to help others training to be counselors.

Aniyah: I’m learning so much from our talks. What I enjoy most is the positivity, the encouragement, not only about school but even just everyday life. I’m glad we have this program.

GB: Me, too.