Meet your mentor, Bao.

Bao is a Senior Accountant who currently lives in Astoria, New York, and is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. She attended UNC Chapel Hill, where she studied Asian Studies with a concentration in Japanese. Bao’s career in accounting allows her to work closely with numbers and problem-solving, helping organizations understand their finances and make smart decisions. Outside of work, she has a wide range of interests—she enjoys staying active through sports and workouts, being creative by building and fixing things, cooking and baking, traveling, and spending time outdoors. She is also passionate about community, cultural connection, and college access, shaped by her experiences as a first-generation college student and a full-ride scholarship recipient.

As a mentor, Bao brings a warm, flexible, and empathetic approach. She is very comfortable talking about emotions and believes in meeting students where they are, creating a space that feels safe, supportive, and encouraging. This connects well with you, Jessica, especially since you value sharing your feelings, enjoy hands-on and creative activities, and are exploring different futures—from athletics to math-based careers. Bao’s background in financial literacy, her experience mentoring high school students, and her understanding of navigating college as a first-generation student can be especially helpful as you think about adulthood, college, and the many opportunities ahead.