Y-FRIENDz Spotlight Match

Mentor Raquel Sojourner is no stranger to volunteering and being active in her community. Now in her second year as a full time volunteer with AmeriCorps, Raquel wanted to do more to help the organization she was working with and decided to volunteer as a Y-FRIENDz mentor. In December, the San Diego native was matched with 15 year-old high school freshman Monica and the duo have been having a great time ever since. Coming from a big family herself, Raquel fit right in with Monica’s brother and sister, who are also in Y-FRIENDz, and has enjoyed spending time with them during monthly events. But more importantly, Raquel and Monica have spent quality time together over the past few months and have formed a great bond.

Luckily, Monica shares Raquel’s love for food and most of their outings involve walking somewhere to grab a sweet treat after school. Raquel recalls one hot day when she and Monica were enjoying an ice cream cone and it started to melt all over Monica’s arm. The two of them shared a laugh while Monica tried to eat her ice cream out of the bottom of the cone. When they aren’t devouring goodies, the pair likes to go for walks, talk and are fierce competitors in the video game ‘Dance Dance Revolution’.

The mentoring relationship has been quite rewarding for Raquel, who, being the youngest of five sisters, knows how important it is to have a positive female role model. Raquel comments that while growing up, having strong, encouraging women who “looked like her”, helped her become the person she is today and she hopes she can have the same impact on Monica. It appears that Monica is already on the right path, showing interest in volunteering and helping children who have had similar experiences as her.

Raquel continues to be inspired by Monica’s resilience and positivity and it’s obvious that these two make a great pair.