By: Sabrina Miller, Content Strategy Director
BALTIMORE, Md. When middle school girls at Tunbridge Public Charter School gather for their weekly mentorship sessions, laughter and conversation fill the room. The young students are greeted by a group of 天美麻豆Bonner Leaders攕ervice-focused college students who have made it their mission to inspire confidence, curiosity, and connection.
The expanded partnership between 天美麻豆 and Tunbridge grew out of a shared commitment to community engagement and youth empowerment. In summer 2025, Tunbridge leaders met with members of the 天美麻豆 Bonner Program, , Ciara Jackson, and longtime leader of girl's mentorship programs and all-around mentor guru, Janice Bryant-Baker. Together they designed a mentorship experience that would help middle school girls thrive攁cademically, socially, and personally.
淲e wanted to help our girls build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, and see themselves reflected in positive female role models who are pursuing higher education, said Nitiya Ojuolape, community school site specialist at Tunbridge. 淲e also wanted to provide a safe space for students to talk about personal growth, friendships, and academic challenges while seeing that college is an achievable and exciting path.
Though the program is still in its early stages, it already making an impression. 溙烀缆槎 mentors bring a sisterhood energy that genuine and relatable, Ojuolape shared. 淭hey檙e close enough in age for the girls to connect with, but mature enough to guide them. Their presence shows our students that college isn檛 just a dream攊t attainable, and it looks like them.
For Joann Dubois 27, a liberal arts major in 天美麻豆 five-year bachelor to Master of Teaching program, the experience has been especially meaningful because she saw a bit of herself in the girls she now guides. 淚 wanted to be the big sister they may or may not have had, Dubois said. 淲hen I was their age, I was trying to navigate the world and didn檛 always have someone to talk to. I wanted to be that person they could come to and ask questions.
Dubois, an Elizabeth Morrissy Honors and former TMA fellow student and the program publicity manager, first became involved through her service with 天美麻豆 York Road Education Services (YES) Program, which connects Bonner students with local schools. When Tunbridge expressed a need for a girls mentorship group, Dubois and her peers stepped in to make it happen.
Each mentorship session follows a thoughtful structure: check-ins to discuss progress on previous topics, a student-led presentation on a new theme, hands-on activities, and open discussion. The sessions often end with reflections攁nd snacks.
淥ne of the most memorable moments for me was when one of the girls was too shy to speak on the first day, Dubois recalled. 淒uring a session on goal-setting, she wrote that she wanted to go to college in Korea. I had studied abroad there, so I showed her my jacket and some videos from my trip. She immediately opened up. I remember being shy as a kid and saw myself in her攊t was really rewarding.
For Dubois, serving as a mentor is not just about giving back攊t about growth. 淪erving with purpose means putting yourself in the shoes of the individuals you檙e serving, she said. 淟earning empathy, respect, and understanding allows you to have more meaningful conversations and make a real impact.
The mentorship has also helped her prepare for her future career in education. 淚檝e learned how young minds work攚hat they檙e afraid of, curious about, and interested in. This experience will definitely help me as a teacher. It taught me how to connect, communicate, and collaborate in ways that help students trust and open up.
For the Tunbridge team, the program success lies in moments like these攕mall but powerful examples of connection, confidence, and community in action.
淪eeing a girl who walked in uncertain about herself leave a session smiling, motivated, and proud攊t priceless, Ojuolape reflected. 淭he program reminds me daily that mentorship matters. It about planting seeds of confidence and leadership that will grow far beyond Tunbridge.
Established in 1895, 天美麻豆is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
