As I arrived to college, just as I was in the car with all my junk, I got a call from my assigned peer mentor. His name is Ashani. He greeted me, let me know where my key was, and then where my residence hall was. He is a special person and had an answer to most of my questions. He is one of the first people I met at Brandeis.
Being part of SSSP (Student Support Services Program), I was lucky enough to be matched with a peer mentor. He was not the older figure that you look up from a sort of distance. Ashani wanted to be my friend, my advisor. He shared with me stories about his rough first year at Brandeis. He told me that transitioning into college was not easy as he first thought it would be. Planning to do pre-med, he quickly changed his mind of HSSP (Health: Science, Society and Policy Program) and WGS studies (Women’s, Gender and Sexuality). He took advantage of his education at Brandeis, told me the actual story of the school—meaning the pros and cons.
In addition, we were even part of the LGBT+ club at Brandeis. I remember we would meet every Thursday for general meetings and afterwards, we would chat about how the semester is going, about his future plans after graduation, and about our identity and everything that entailed falling into somewhere within the LGBT+ spectrum.
I think when mentors keep it real, that is when you know they are the best. They do not look at you in a belittling way; they want to help you out with anything that you may need.
I remember I would reach out to him about information on fellowships, or how could I apply for a job on campus, etc. He would always link me to somewhere or someone.
In fact, we also tried to see each other outside the university environment. Once we went out to eat in Chinatown. Another day he decided to cook—he wanted to brag about his cooking skills, and, honestly, he had it. He is a good cook.
Last school year was also a pivotal year at Brandeis in terms of incrementing the representation in the student body, faculty, and staff. Ashani was part of FordHall2015. It was a very important event in his life, because as a black student in a predominantly white institution, as Brandeis is, despite boasting on its quite diverse student body, it not quite yet. He felt he needed to be part of a cause that was bigger than him. I remember seeing him cry, which made me realize, even though he always presents himself as a tough guy with his tough attitude, behind that mascara, he has a wonderful and vulnerable heart, and when it comes to speak for others in the midst of the countless of injustices that are occurring, he is your man.
I remember he told me after FordHall2015 was a success that he was pondering on the idea of going to law school. I am crossing my fingers for that to happen. I kept seeing him around campus, until May arrived and he picked up his diploma, grabbed all his belongings, and left—finishing another chapter of his life, an important one I know. I think what I loved the most about him was that he said to me once, “Brandeis has its many flaws, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”
And I do know that I would not change Brandeis for anything in the world. I am content where I am right now—I learned to deal with the so-called “flaws.”
Find a mentor or be the mentor of somebody, often times people get lost, especially first-generation students. We do not know how to navigate the system, and often times we need someone that can show us how the system works.
Best,
Santiago Montoya