Mentoring The Next Generation

Koa Fong ’25 Finance major is dedicated to social justice, Chinese-American activism, and the Jesuit values of USF. She is a member of the USF Rising Youth Mentorship program, which demonstrates how our country’s education needs the help of young people to show the way. During the 2023-2024 year, Koa helped middle school and high school students understand they have the potential, the capability, and a place on a 4-year university campus.

Most of my Wednesday evenings were spent in the gym at Booker T. Washington Community Center, getting absolutely crushed in basketball by middle schoolers. Despite losing (quite often), it was the kids I met and the conversations I had that continue to inspire my advocacy for educational equity. This past year, I had the pleasure of being part of the first cohort of the USF Rising Youth Mentorship, a program under the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good.

For many middle schoolers, especially those from underserved and underrepresented communities, the concept of college can seem distant or even unattainable. The purpose of this program is to promote a college-going mindset and understand youth experiences through a lens of compassion and equity. Many days were spent playing endless games of Uno and card games as we shared about our days at school and upcoming milestones, with a lot of time simply spent listening. Listening not only forges a bridge of empathy and understanding but also amplifies these kids and their voices.

One of the highlights of my mentorship was spent editing high school seniors’ scholarship essays. We spent the afternoon bouncing ideas back and forth, making edits together, and laughing about our similar experiences with the college application process. Advocacy comes in all shapes and sizes; it’s not just protests and sign-making. It is the conversations we hold and the people we meet. As Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” This was a scholarship for Black youth in San Francisco worth $20,000 – and I just found out that both students got the scholarship! I am so grateful to be a part of this community, and I cannot wait to see what these students achieve in life.

USF Rising is centered around cultural humility, learning from those around you with humility and understanding. Having the right perspective and attitude is the first step; lifelong learning and critical self-reflection are necessary for recognizing and appreciating the individual differences of others. It is critical to recognize and challenge societal power imbalances, taking the time to step back and see what is going on in our society, and also taking the initiative to challenge institutions and broken systems. Our education system is broken, and it is time we step up and fix it. 

My experiences with the USF Rising Youth Mentorship have reinforced the importance of listening, empathy, and active engagement in creating meaningful, possibly life-altering change. The impact of this program on both the mentees and mentors is profound, and I am honored to have been a part of it. Together, we can foster a more equitable and just educational system for all.

Be like Koa and open the doors of a potential higher education for the next generation. For more information on how to promote a college-going culture to the next generation and become a USF Rising Youth Mentor, email:  cbtrujillo@usfca.edu