CBU student recognized as College Mentor of the Year
Riverside, Calif. (June 8, 2023) – For many students, attending college is an experience that includes many firsts and new opportunities. From meeting a new roommate to participating in on-campus activities, students are afforded occasions to connect and try new things. For students who attend college out of state, this can be an intimidating time of meeting new people and navigating a new environment.
Hannah Jean Bergman, a student from Massachusetts who started attending CBU in 2020,
knew that making connections early on was essential.
“When I arrived at CBU, I was looking for ways to connect with others,” said Bergman. “The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire was holding an informational meeting about their mentoring program. It seemed like a great way to meet others and offer support.”
Bergman volunteered for the College Mentor Program, a program that pairs college student mentors (“Bigs”) with local high school students (“Littles”). The program includes monthly one-to-one mentoring that provides the mentees an opportunity to learn about the college experience, overcome obstacles on their path to success and become community advocates. The mentors serve as positive role models while offering advice and support to their mentees and growing as leaders and advocates in their communities.
“The girl I mentored – my Little – is 17 years old and one of the first friends I made when I moved to California,” said Bergman. “We would check in via text or Facetime. I was there to answer any questions she had about college or the application process and offer support for her high school experience and her classes.”
As a person who is motivated to succeed, Bergman was an ideal mentor for the program.
“I’m motivated by setting goals and keeping them front-of-mind,” Bergman said. “My goals help keep me focused; living a healthy work-life balance keeps me motivated.”
That motivation along with Bergman’s commitment to her Little resulted in her being recognized as the College Mentor of the Year at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire awards banquet in May 2023.
“I was truly surprised when I found out I was the College Bigs Mentor of the Year,” said Bergman. “Growing up I was super shy and the thought of me being a mentor was questionable. It was an honor (to be recognized) and helped me see my own growth.”
Bergman is entering her senior year at CBU, majoring in finance. She will be graduating in December 2023, a semester early. She currently works in residential sales with MainStreet realtors. Bergman wants to go into commercial real estate and real estate investing to combine her finance degree with her interest in real estate.