Second PACT Post

Zoey Lieberman
Monday, March 21st at 7:00 PM
Peninsuala Bridge
Randi Shafton
rshafton@menloschool.org

The sixth meeting with Edwin and his mom was the pinnacle of our time together because it was immediately following Edwin's acceptance into St. Matthew's Episcopal School, an independent middle school that he applied to. The prior five meetings had predominantly been centered around work: registering for open houses and shadow visits, filling out financial aid forms, and writing responses for the applications of the various schools that Edwin was applying to. This visit, however, was a celebration, a meeting overflowing with happiness and joy. Edwin's acceptance into St. Matt's is transformative. If he were not accepted into St. Matt's, he would have attended the public middle school in San Mateo, Borel, which is a school that lacks the sufficient resources and teachers that students usually need to thrive. St. Matt's, on the other hand, is an exceptional academic community, filled with teachers who truly care about their students' learning experiences. Attending St. Matt's will put Edwin on a track of not only academic success, but also academic confidence, giving Edwin the chance to grow in all subjects and skills in a supportive space.
The fact that I was able to be a part of this monumental experience is something that I'm incredibly proud and grateful for. Edwin's life will be completely changed because of St. Matt's, and the fact that I had the chance to witness this change is incredible. While registering for open house and shadow visits, filling out financial aid forms, and helping Edwin write responses to application questions was the central focus of my role as a Peninsula Bridge mentor, over time, my family and I took on a new role in Edwin and his mom's life: the role of a friend. Our relationship with Edwin and Maria will not fade as he embarks on a new journey at St. Matt's. I look forward to keeping in touch with the Perez family, and continuing to watch Edwin grow as a student and human being in the years to come.