The Fulfillment of Being Chosen: A Mentor’s Reflection on Trust, Growth, and Connection

This week, I’ve found myself in deep reflection, not just about what I do, but about why I do it. As a mentor working with scholars in rural Kenya, I’ve experienced many meaningful moments, but this week stood out in a very personal way.

Mentorship is often seen as a responsibility: you're assigned a curriculum, you prepare, and you show up. And that in itself is a privilege. But nothing quite compares to the quiet joy of realizing that the young people you mentor have chosen you in return.

I was reminded of something I once learned: true mentorship happens when the mentee chooses the mentor. This week, I felt that truth in action. Scholars I work with opened up, shared their struggles, and trusted me enough to walk with them through their challenges. They reached out, not with fear, but with the confidence that I would support them.

This has been one of the most fulfilling seasons of my life. It’s not just about the sessions or the curriculum; it’s about relationships, trust, and shared growth.

I’m deeply grateful to CWE-TECH and the entire team I work with, and to Daring Girls for making this journey possible.

To anyone reading this, when you have the chance to mentor, take it. Be present. Be consistent. Let the mentees choose you with their trust. That’s where the real impact lies.