Dear MOSTe Family,
As the school year comes to a close, we want to congratulate all of our graduating students on your incredible accomplishment! You have worked so hard over the years, and you should be extremely proud of yourselves. Graduating from high school or college is a major milestone that opens up new chapters and possibilities. Take the time to celebrate this achievement with your loved ones. For those students not graduating yet, enjoy your summer break! You’ve earned it after all your hard work this school year.
MOSTe has been hard at work over the past few months matching our new mentors with mentees for the upcoming school year. We had an incredible number of mentor applications and are so grateful for all the volunteers who want to make a positive impact. We can’t wait to see all the mentor-mentee relationships blossom over the next year! If you haven’t signed up to be a mentor yet, it’s not too late – we are always accepting new applications.
Warm regards,
Nicole Fisher
Executive Director
MOSTe in Action
2024 MOSTe Retreat
May 17 – 19, 2024
Our highly anticipated annual MOSTe Retreat took place last month at Pepperdine University! During the retreat, our scholars spent the weekend bonding, learning, and reflecting within the MOSTe family. They conquered their fears and challenged themselves to a day with Surf Bus, participating in water activities, sand games, and tide pool viewing. Scholars also welcomed the wisdom and learning opportunities offered by the Wishtoyo Foundation, focusing on confidence, wellness, and plant education. In addition, the scholars took part in a YAP-led door decorating contest, enjoyed some relaxation during yoga sessions, and sat in on a panel featuring our very own MOSTe Mentors and Board Members.
Special thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to making this Retreat a fantastic experience!
Water Adventures: Making Waves with Surf Bus
Friendly competition, and wise words from our mentors & board members
Embracing Wisdom and Learning: A Focus on Confidence, Wellness, and Plant Education with the Wishtoyo Foundation
Unwinding with yoga and retreat shirt painting
Upcoming Events
2024 MOSTe Culmination
We are excited to announce that our MOSTe 2024 Culmination Ceremony will be held on June 22, 2024, at USC. This special event is an opportunity for our community to gather and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our graduates and honor our mentors.
2024 MOSTe College Essay Workshop Series
Starting June 15, 2024, rising seniors will have the opportunity to participate in multiple writing sessions throughout the summer to prepare for the fall. Let’s get prepared for the upcoming college application cycle!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We are immensely proud of each and every one of you. This year, the introduction of the new FAFSA presented unique challenges, including significant delays and verification issues. Despite these hurdles, your perseverance and patience have been truly inspiring.
Seniors, please take a moment to applaud yourselves for adeptly navigating this year’s complex college application process. We would also like to extend a special thank you to Vanessa, our dedicated Program Manager, for her exceptional efforts in meeting with students and families individually, ensuring that everyone received the extra support needed during this challenging time. Everyone at MOSTe is rooting for you!
Mentor Moment
This past month, my mentees and I focused a lot on the colleges they got accepted into and reviewed their financial aid offers. It was a busy month as they received financial aid for their accepted schools. We took time to create a financial aid comparison tool for them to understand better how much money the school was offering them. In the end, my mentee ended up committing to UC Berkeley, and my other mentee committed to UC Irvine! I am excited for them to attend a four-year university where I know they will thrive and continue to succeed as first-generation Latina students. – Mentor Veronica C.
My mentee and I went bowling for our outing this month. – Mentor Melissa I.
Mentee and I went to the arcade during their family day. We both like Iron Maiden, so we had a fun time playing the Iron Maiden pinball machines. – Mentor Stay C.
I got to see my mentee graduate from the cadet program! – Mentor Ashlee Z.
Mentee and I had a congratulations dinner for her soon-to-be high school graduation. We will be seeing each other for her actual graduation next Monday! – Mentor Monica B.
Mentee and I went to an old-school diner for dinner and a brownie sundae! We caught up, and I got her a small gift to congratulate her on graduating 8th grade – Mentor Kelly K.
This month, my mentee and I met up at a restaurant we’ve had on our must-try list and celebrated so many momentous occasions! We celebrated her 18th birthday, the completion of her Cedar Sinai Program presentation, her PAM team’s 2nd place distinction in competition, and her senior year in general! – Mentor Isabel C.
We made homemade pasta and tiramisu together. – Mentor Laurie S.
Through the past month, the scholars and I communicated via email and text messages. I attended and met other mentors at the annual retreat, as we also crafted a unique MOSTe t-shirt. One of my mentees graduated from high school, and this month was especially nerve-wracking for her because this was the month to make her final decision in selecting the college she would attend. We had several conversations on the pros and cons of the colleges that sent her an offer. She decided on Cal State Long Beach. She is a strong, resilient student, and she will excel at whatever she sets her mind to. I am confident that in four years from now, she will be achieving her educational goals. I am very proud of her accomplishments, and it has been a pleasure and an honor to be her mentor. I have been communicating with my other mentees via emails and text messages. I sent them information on possible summer internships/jobs, and we will continue to keep in touch through the summer. – Mentor Elba S.
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