Meet your mentee, Tom.

Tom describes himself as calm, talkative, and chill. He grew up in Manhattan and speaks Spanish at home. He’s currently watching Saul Goodman on Netflix, and he’s especially drawn to basketball and MMA. Physical activity is a big part of who he is—he enjoys gym class, playing basketball in different neighborhoods, weight training, and biking around the city on Citi Bikes. Tom trained in MMA starting at 13, later transitioned to boxing, and hopes to compete again once he’s fully healed and able to return. He likes Spanish class because it’s fun, social, and a place where he feels comfortable with friends. Outside of sports, he enjoys drawing Hispanic-style cartoons and wants to return to playing piano, which he started learning when he was six. His long-term goals center on becoming financially independent, living peacefully, and eventually fighting professionally. He joined GCSA because he wants to learn, access new opportunities, and take advantage of the support his dean and teachers encouraged him to pursue.

There are several strong connections between you and Tom. You both enjoy anime, drama-driven shows, and expressing yourselves through the arts—whether through drawing, music, or performance. His interest in MMA and physical activity aligns with your own background in wrestling and how team culture shaped your confidence and leadership. Tom is talkative, thoughtful, and detail-oriented once he feels comfortable, which connects well with your leadership style and your experience supporting young people as they discover their strengths. He’ll benefit from your ability to guide, encourage, and help him clarify his goals while creating space for him to grow at his own pace.