It has been a great pleasure to be one of the STARS mentors this year. I became a STARS mentor because I missed the opportunity last year.

STARS mentoring has been my happy escape from a stressful school year. Every time I mentor my Year 9 class, I always leave the room with a smile and a joyful heart. Their perspective about the world mesmerizes me. It is so different from mine. So innocent yet so meaningful. Whenever we discuss certain topics and issues about our community where we talk about things we can do to solve these issues, they gave such thoughtful ideas. In this way, despite being the mentor, I learned from them. They have taught me that I shouldn't lose my inner child. The inner child in me sees the goodness around me, the goodness in this world.

Being a STARS mentor has given me the opportunity to gain and enhance my leadership skills, to impart some of my knowledge to these younger students and this mentoring program helped us to build a good relationship with the Year 9s, encouraging them to speak their voice, encouraging them to know that they have the power to change the world. I feel honored to be part of their high school experience and I believe all of them will be amazing humans when they grow up.

Special thanks to Lucretia for helping and guiding us throughout our STARS mentoring. Thank you, Lucretia!