How Finding the Right Mentor Helped Me Become One, Too

Mentorship shaped my journey to Bentley and the person I am today. The guidance I received made all the difference. That’s why I do my best to pay it forward and be that person for someone else. 

I was in middle school when I met my first mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Scott Vanderlin opened the door to many of the opportunities that shaped my leadership and confidence. He’s always emphasized the mindset of working hard now so you can create more stability and opportunity for yourself in the future. 

Scott also tried to expose me to new environments and perspectives around Boston and always took time to listen and give advice. Since my dad lives in Argentina and we don’t speak often, having a local male mentor like Scott was impactful. Through his example, he helped shape how I think about responsibility, discipline and showing up for others.

Finding My Place at Bentley   

In 2016, Scott encouraged me to enroll in the Ron Burton Training Village. Founded by former New England Patriots player Ron Burton Sr., the program’s mission is to empower underprivileged youth.  

I spent much of my middle and high school summers at the camp. I remember one session when Bentley Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Development Mario Silva-Rosa came and spoke. I had heard about Bentley, but it was good to learn what it’s really like to be there. When I found out about the high job placement rate for graduates, I knew it was the place for me. If I went there and worked hard, I was confident I would get a job after college.  

After applying to Bentley and being wait-listed, I was accepted for fall 2022. As a first-generation college student, it took a while for me to understand how things worked. The good thing is that I’m pretty outgoing. If I see someone sitting alone, I’ll randomly go talk to them. I started spending a lot of time at the Multicultural Center (MCC) and the MCC lounge. And I’m glad I did because it’s where I met Tyler-Gary Louis ’23 — the first of many Bentley mentors. 

I guess Tyler saw something in me. He guided me throughout my whole freshman year, making sure that I got involved. I joined Black United Body (BUB) and Mankind Movement (MKM), a brotherhood for men of color on campus. Tyler encouraged me to keep pushing myself to find different ways to immerse myself in the school. I took his advice. And suddenly, college life became what I had imagined.

A Vision Becomes Reality

My involvement on campus has led to so many meaningful experiences. As former BUB assistant treasurer and now assistant director of the BUB fashion show, I’ve learned leadership and teambuilding skills. 

At MKM meetings, I met alumni who shared advice on things like financial literacy and mental health awareness. I learned the importance of being your best and showing up for others. 

One of the things I’m most proud of is launching an on-campus mentoring program for first-generation students like me.   

When I first started working on this idea, it was a broader initiative focused on supporting students of color through mentorship and professional development. As I developed it, I met with a range of people across campus, including the Multicultural Center team, First-Generation Experience Specialist Vanessa Velasquez and alumni. People liked the idea, but there wasn’t a clear path to getting it started. 

That’s what led me to reach out to President E. LaBrent Chrite. Vanessa was a huge help in preparing me for that meeting, making sure I could clearly communicate the vision within the 30-minute window. Since I had connected with him before, I went into the conversation more excited than nervous. He was very receptive, gave thoughtful feedback and showed interest in the idea, but he empowered me to own the process of launching it. 

After that, Vanessa connected me with Senior Lecturer in Computer Information Systems Jackie Masloff, who was already exploring a mentorship initiative through Tri-Alpha first-gen national honor society. When I pitched the idea again, it really clicked. While my original concept was broader, we realized it could come to life through that framework. Jackie was very receptive and helped bring the program to launch in spring 2025. 

So, while it didn’t start as a Tri-Alpha mentorship program, that shift is what allowed it to move from an idea into something real.

Finding Hidden Gems 

I almost couldn’t believe it when we launched a pilot program in spring 2025. We matched first-gen students with first-gen staff and faculty. Once I saw everybody in the room, I was like, “Wow, this is a beautiful thing to see people talking without even needing to use our icebreakers.” 

My goal in keeping the “first-gen focus” of the mentorship program was to help Bentley students like me imagine what’s possible — because we’re already starting a step behind. A person who’s more senior has all this life experience that they can give us. In a sense, it’s a shortcut: like having the answers to the test before you even take it. You get all these hidden gems you don’t understand until you live life.  

Seeing the impact of the program has lit an even stronger fire in me, and now I know I will keep exploring how we could grow this even more. I would love to add alumni to the program. For a first-generation student, having a community of people to be there for you is one of the easiest ways to make you feel included and hopeful for the future.

New Approaches in Action 

Mentors are just one part of my college experience. The classes that really stick out to me are the ones that were the hardest because I was able to learn a lot more. Last semester, I took a machine learning class, which was a pivotal class for my Finance and Technology major, and I had to understand the whole process of AI, basically how to take raw information, organize it and teach a computer to spot patterns and make accurate predictions. A lot of my Python coding skills came from that. 

I’m a Management minor as well, so a lot of my management classes were about understanding how to be a better manager and leader. My favorite class was one focused on giving and receiving feedback. It required a lot of observing and listening.   

That experience made it easier for me when I started my internships. As a financial analyst intern at Amazon, I would actively ask my manager for feedback about ways I could improve. Over time, she said I was one of the best interns that she ever had because of the way that I was able to make the most out of a project. I always offered a helping hand and wanted to help figure things out. And, thanks to my management classes, it was easier for me to take that approach.  

It was an incredible experience and one that isn’t ending. I’ve accepted a full-time job with Amazon as a financial analyst in their Operational Finance Rotational Program in Irving, Texas, after graduation.

Leaving Space to Lift Up Others 

For me, success comes from working hard. But it also comes back to everyone who supported me along the way — from mentors and teammates to professors and friends. And I’m committed to making sure I never lose sight of that.  

That mission includes going back to the place that led me to Bentley in the first place: Ron Burton Training Village. For the past three summers, I’ve served as a retreat lead to help foster personal growth, teamwork and character development. I’m giving back because someone gave back to me.  

I recently asked Tyler what he saw in me when we first met. He told me that I had a very welcoming presence and that he felt I would go on to do something meaningful. He mentioned that when he looked at me, it seemed like I had a genuine desire to create change. I’m not entirely sure how he was able to see that from such a brief interaction, but it meant a lot to feel recognized in that way. 

One thing I’ve learned at Bentley is how powerful it can be to share your story and be vulnerable. As a first-generation college student, I had to figure out many things on my own. Speaking about those experiences has helped me realize that a lot of people relate to that uncertainty. Life isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about the journey and being willing to ask questions, use the resources around you and trust that your voice and experiences have value.