Diva was a mentee on our 2023/24 cohort. When she first signed up to our programme, she was about to enter Year 10, and one of her main goals was to gain a clearer picture of her future career. She was interested in several career options, including being a flight attendant, so we matched her with Kasey, a Cabin Crew Talent Acquisition Coordinator, who was also happy to support a mentee with varied career interests.
Kasey and Diva built a strong rapport over the year - when asked about her match with her mentor, Diva said “I like that Kasey is kind and very comfortable and she is aware of how to talk and help me relax. [She] takes interest in my goals.”
During their meetings, the pair explored a range of career options, as well as working on Diva’s other goals, including improving GCSE study skills, and choosing sixth form subjects. For Diva, the programme has had a significant impact on how she works towards her goals. “Mentoring has continued to encourage me to strive for anything in life if you are willing to work for it, even if you have a different appearance. It gives me hope and a more clear path of my future.”
Diva has also been able to step into roles of responsibility whilst on the programme. Her school acknowledged her as an advocate for the Catalyst amongst her peers, with Diva commenting “I wanted my friends to get out of it as much as I had and to see the benefits”. She was a member of the Catalyst Youth Advisory Board, where she had a say in planning the first Catalyst residential weekend, which took place in April.
The residential was also Diva and Kasey’s first time meeting in person, and for Diva, the scavenger hunt they did together was one of the most memorable moments of their mentoring relationship so far! She also noted the 'future-self' letter writing and public speaking activity as another highlight, saying that it helped the mentees build teamwork and confidence.
Diva really enjoyed the residential weekend, remarking that “it was exciting, funny and calming. I enjoyed the activities [but] it still focused on our goals, and if we had any problems anyone was available. It presented new ideas and showed me how others understand things. I loved every step of it and if I could I would do it again.”
On what she thinks of the mentoring programme, Diva shares “I love the Catalyst Collective and the support we all get. I think it’s a wonderful programme because the people we are paired with are relatable to us.”
It has been a pleasure to have Diva, and her mentor Kasey, on the programme, and we can't wait to see where Diva's future leads!
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