When I look back on my life, I realize that mentoring isn’t something I chose. It’s something that chose me. 

Raised in California by a single mother who worked tirelessly to support our family, I learned early on that helping others wasn’t an extra—it was essential.

As the oldest sibling, I helped care for my younger brother and sister, and over time, I naturally gravitated toward roles that involved supporting and guiding others. In high school, I tutored elementary school children and worked as a camp counselor. In my undergrad years, I volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, supporting a bright and kind child who probably taught me more than I taught him. Even then, I didn’t think of it as “mentoring”; it was simply about being there for a young boy who needed encouragement, connection, and belief. 
 
It wasn’t until I arrived at Tufts for my master’s degree in child development that I began to understand how deeply mentoring was woven into my identity. And it was during those years that my life took a turn I never could have anticipated: I met Kathleen. 
 
Kathleen and I both started in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development in 1993. Although we never had a class together, we got to know each other through the Graduate Student Association, Tufts Mountain Club, and teaching at the Tufts Educational Day Care Center. We bonded over our passion for working with children, our commitment to helping others become their best selves, and our love for the outdoors. Somehow, we found in each other a perfect companion. She became my best friend, my wife, my eternal partner. 

When Kathleen died after a valiant battle with cancer two-and-a-half years ago, the world dimmed. She had been my constant, my co-dreamer, and an amazing mother to our two wonderful children.  
 
She’d had a distinctive gift. She could see potential in people long before they saw it in themselves. Her teaching, volunteer work, and way of living were all expressions of her belief in human goodness. As her obituary so perfectly put it, “In her 51 years, she touched and inspired children and adults to be their best selves and to help others to do the same.” I think about that line often and strive to do the same every day. 
 
Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced, and yet it became a call to carry her light, kindness, and positivity forward into the world. 

Mentoring as a Living Legacy 

Today, offering guidance to students through Tufts’ FIRST Center Career Mentorship Program feels like more than service; it feels like a continuation of the life Kathleen and I built together. Like the students I work with, I, too, was a first-generation college student, and I know what it was like to feel out of place in a prestigious and highly competitive academic setting. I remember the isolation of my first semester at the University of California, Berkeley, without any family members who had walked that path before me. The students that I mentor today are navigating similar terrain.   

Building trust is the first step. I want my mentees to know that I’m not here to judge them or tell them which path to follow. I’m here to listen to their goals and fears, and to help them overcome the obstacles they face—supporting them not just professionally, but as whole people. 
 
One of the lessons Kathleen lived and taught is that confidence and connection go hand in hand. It’s not just about polishing a resumé or practicing interviews; it’s about believing that you belong, that your voice, your ideas, and your dreams matter. I am driven to help my mentees see that for themselves. 
 
Sometimes mentoring means reviewing LinkedIn profiles or connecting students with professionals. Other times, it simply means being a steady presence, someone who believes in them when they’re struggling to believe in themselves. One of my proudest moments came recently when a mentee said, “I feel like I can really do this now.” Moments like that—when belief finally outweighs doubt—remind me why this work matters and the positive impact it can have. 
 
My career path hasn’t been traditional, and I’m grateful for that. After Tufts, I directed learning centers for Kaplan and SCORE! Educational Centers, worked in IT, led talent development at Major League Soccer, and developed coaching, leadership, and mentoring programs internationally in Athens, Dublin, London, and Tokyo. Through it all, the lessons I learned at Tufts (and from Kathleen) remained my compass: meet people where they are, help them believe in their own potential, and nurture their growth with care. 
 
In my current role as a talent development leader, I draw daily on what I’ve learned about cognitive, emotional, and social development. Adults, after all, are simply grown-up children still learning how to navigate and thrive in the world. Every interaction is a chance to close the gap between where someone is and where they want to be (a concept I first encountered at Tufts, studying Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development). 

A Future Shaped by Hope 

The students I work with teach me as much as I teach them. They remind me of the importance of resilience, hope, and the courage it takes to chase a dream in an unfamiliar world. They keep me connected to and excited about the future—and to Kathleen’s beautiful spirit. 
 
Kathleen’s legacy isn’t just an abundance of fond memories raising our two children or volunteering on our local parent-teacher association and board of education. It’s a living force that shapes how I approach and live each day. When I mentor, coach, volunteer, or encourage someone to pursue their dreams, I’m continuing the work we enjoyed doing together. I’m carrying forward the belief that small acts of kindness and encouragement can positively (and  sometimes dramatically) change lives. 
 
Soon, as my own children move into their next exciting chapters—college, careers, adventures of their own traveling the world—I’ll have even more time to devote to mentoring, coaching, and giving back in all the ways Kathleen and I dreamed about. Whatever I do next will be rooted in the same mission we shared: to inspire, uplift, and believe in the power of possibility. 
 
When people ask me why I mentor, the answer is simple: because I’ve seen what a positive, life-changing difference it makes—and because Kathleen’s radiant and bright light continues to guide every existing and new relationship I foster.