Over the past year, Bea and Elena have built a relationship grounded in trust, shared experiences, and consistency. What began as a match through Bolder Options has grown into a meaningful connection shaped by both fun and honest conversations.

Meet three of our newest Rochester mentors and hear, in their own words, why they chose to get involved and what they’re experiencing so far.

“What does it actually take to be a mentor?” The honest answer? More than people think. Mentoring isn’t just hanging out or having fun, though there’s plenty of that. It’s showing up consistently. It’s sticking with a young person even when they’re quiet, distracted, or pushing you away a little. It’s being someone they can count on, week after week. It takes patience. Flexibility. A sense of humor helps. So does the ability to try again next week when things don’t go as plan