December 2024

The 2024-2025 School Year marks the 10th year anniversary since the creation of the Stuyvesant Alumni Mentoring Program by alumna, YanJie Hou ‘06. The program has grown and changed tremendously since that first semester in the Spring of 2015 with only 60+ alumni mentors and student mentees. These days, the program varies between 200 – 300 participants depending on the year.

Besides facilitating insightful and meaningful conversations between mentors and mentees in cohort group meetings, the Program has also added a number of interactive and informative workshops over the years. Workshop topics range from helping students navigate the college application process to giving them an inside look at some of Stuyvesant alumni’s most popular professions to workshops focusing on important life skills like public speaking, networking, and financial literacy.

On this important landmark year for the Program, we asked student mentees, alumni mentors, and even ex-student mentees who have now returned as alumni mentors their favorite parts of the Program as well as the impact the Program has had on them:

Eileen Xu ’25: I received a lot of valuable advice from my mentor that has shifted my perspective on the future. For instance, my mentor told me to make decisions that keep as many doors or opportunities open for myself, rather than limiting myself to a single path that may not offer room for growth. My experience as a mentee has changed my mindset for the better and left me with unforgettable memories.

Zihe Huang ’26: The Mentoring Program is an amazing opportunity for students to gain exposure to different fields, and through listening to the diverse and winding paths taken by mentors, learn that future success isn’t necessarily defined by your college or a few setbacks.

Aidan Zeleniy ’27: The Mentoring Program allowed me to help better understand my high school journey and beyond. I was provided advice on how to develop my professional skills, which oftentimes aren’t taught in school. All in all, this program has truly changed me through lessons and relationships developed with mentors, and I will forever be grateful for joining the program.

Bill Weiss ’80: I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to connect with Stuy graduates and students while giving back something to Stuy.  It’s so satisfying to see mentees grow during their time in the Program. They learn skills that they’ll use for the rest of their lives, and sometimes they even shift the direction of their life. While the Program naturally changes from year to year based on feedback and new ideas, the coolest change is that we’ve begun having our earliest mentees return as mentors!

Prangon Ghose ’17: The Stuyvesant Alumni Mentoring Program was pivotal to bridging the gap between my classroom knowledge and real world career prospects. Coming into the program, I knew almost nothing about resumes and working in a professional setting. My mentors’ insights helped me hone in on my goals and gave me the confidence to excel during my internships right after graduation. Now, as a mentor, I look forward to guiding the next generation of Stuy students in finding and achieving their goals.

Jerry Ye ’19: I loved being part of the Mentoring Program, both as a mentee & student leader. Organizing workshops and panels alongside mentor leaders gave me a benchmark for operational excellence that still guides my work today.

You can read our other features on Mentoring here.

Visit our Digital Yearbook for list and photos of past program participants from 2022 onwards.