Today I did my first video meeting on Zoom. The meeting was for volunteer college mentors, led by the new program coordinator, Mara.

Next I need to learn screen-sharing, split-screen, and how to use Google Drive to share documents with my student. How to go on as a document editor and write suggestions in a bubble. My daughter offered to help me with all of this.

Mentors will need to reassure and encourage students who feel depressed and anxious about their future. Students spent half of their junior year at home taking online classes. Still stuck at home for senior year. No sports, cheering at games, volunteering, community service or socializing in groups. Will their college classes be online, too?

No one knows if Americans will pull together to beat COVID-19. Doubtful.

I volunteered to help Mara scan paper scholarships each week to email to students and mentors. Many local scholarships are paper-and-pencil.

Since 2006, I have been a volunteer college mentor, helping first generation (children of immigrants) write essays to apply for college and scholarships. One of my best success stories is Brenda, who won $269,445 in scholarships in 2016.

Photos:

1. Rachel and I had fun applying for scholarships, 2015.

2. Won the first Scholarship Rockstar award. 2018.

3. Took three young women I previously mentored on a day hike in Icicle Gorge. 2018.