The Power of Showing Up: Abdul’s Journey as a PAIR Mentor
Sometimes it does not take extraordinary efforts to have a meaningful impact. Simply showing up as you are and giving it your best can leave positive impressions that last a lifetime. For me, this is especially exemplified in one of our past volunteers Abdul Maani. Abdul Maani is one of the many PAIR volunteers who really go above and beyond for our students. He has mentored two students in the Global Scholars program from 2022 to 2024 both of which have successfully graduated from Wisdom high school. This is what initially got me interested in Abdul’s story. So I did what I had done a few times before and brought him in for an interview.
When I first met him in my office I was struck but the warm and calming energy he exuded. In many ways when I envision the temperament of our volunteers I picture extremely energetic positive people bringing the biggest personalities. However, his joy was present but understated almost as though he had an endless supply of patience and perception. He was a complete juxtaposition to the image I had conjured in my mind. The character in my head I understood, the character in my thoughts I could predict his motivations for dedicating two years to two students. But the man in front of me, with the quiet yet open disposition was a pleasant mystery. So I asked him “What inspired you to become a mentor in this program?” And thus begins Abdul’s journey at PAIR.
Abdul’s story begins with his parents. His Parents, like many of our students, came to the US as refugees from Somalia. His father dedicated some of his own time to volunteering and supporting other refugees looking to start anew. That depth of character was something that Abdul admired and decided to replicate in his own life. Therefore, when looking for opportunities to give back, he focused his research on organizations that supported the very community that he was a part of. Out of all the choices available to him, he said he felt especially connected to the mission of PAIR and he applied.
Now, simply wanting to help members of your community is moving in on itself. However, what touched me the most was him admitting that during his two years working with PAIR what kept him going was watching his mentees develop in real time. That is what made him stick with his first student and dedicate another year to his second student. He said that watching those kids achieve each milestone and eventually achieve their goals gave him lessons on perseverance that he would not have learned otherwise.
Remember when I said that sometimes coming as you are makes a difference?
“Abdul showed up with no grand plans or expectation of heroism. He simply came with his experience, knowledge, and desire to support where needed. ”
A major factor in being successful as a Scholar’s mentor is being able to bond with your mentee. And as I have said before this is not easy! However, for Abdul, he believes the key to creating that bond is consistency and reliability. He admitted that he may not have had all the answers but despite that, he would show up and figure it out together. This was central for him and his consistency paid off.
At this point, in the interview I was curious and I had to know what was the moment in mentoring that highlighted the strength of the mentorship bond. Here is where the energetic light I expected emerged in his eyes. He told me that the moment that stuck out the most to him was when he was asked to be at his mentee’s high school graduation in his family’s stead. He explained that his mentee had arrived in the US a few years before his family and at the time of graduation his family had not yet been able to arrive in the US. He asked Abdul to attend and to be that support for him in addition to his uncle as he crossed the finish line and graduated from high school.
Furthermore, when it came time for Abdul’s mentee to be reunited with his family, he once again asked Abdul to be a part of that emotional and special moment in his life. This is what made his work as a mentor rewarding, being able to contribute to those big moments for him made his efforts over the year worth it.
Here comes my favorite part of the interview: the fluffy story that makes us all chuckle and brings the fun into these posts. In the last volunteer highlight, we had an “anti-crawfish” campaign. In this one, we learn the importance of timing. For those who are unfamiliar, at PAIR we encourage all our volunteers no matter the program to remember that kids in addition to structure need to have fun. In keeping with the ‘fun matters’ policy, Abdul decided that a great activity for his first mentee would be to take a tour of the Houston Arboretum. Sounds great right? However, this is where our lesson on timing comes in. Abdul took his mentee to the Arboretum in the middle of winter. Not quite the warm fun day in nature he or his mentee envisioned. Despite this slight miscalculation, his mentee made the most of it. Remarking that he enjoyed the quiet and was particularly taken with Houston’s winter wildlife with great emphasis on the armadillo.
Abdul and his mentee at graduation.
Getting the honor to speak with Abdul and hearing his story I was reminded of the importance of showing up. We truly do not know the things we can do or change until we make ourselves present. From the very beginning, Abdul’s focus was consistency and by showing up for his mentees every time there was a need, he was able to watch a young person who at one point struggled to get his story on paper for college essays, then continue on to graduate and begin a journey of endless possibilities. His efforts created lasting positive impacts on the lives of two students in ways that only time will reveal. Volunteers like Abdul are the reason PAIR’s programs have helped refugee youth graduate and pursue college at higher rates than their peers. Thanks to Abdul, PAIR was able to support two more students in achieving their goals and reaching new heights. The time and energy our volunteer mentors invest extend beyond a year or two—they make a difference that lasts a lifetime.