Chandler Rubottom cheered Genesis Ramirez on from the softball stands and drove to her mentee’s home late at night to proofread college admission essays.
Ramirez, a first-year biology student, rode the bus from her North Hollywood community every other week since sixth grade as a mentee in the student-run Mentorship Program at UCLA.
Ramirez will be the first mentee in the program to attend UCLA.
Ramirez had a total of three mentors during her time in the program, but she said the one she connected to most was Rubottom, who she met as a tenth-grader. Although she does not have any siblings, Ramirez – whose mother worked as a single parent – said Rubottom filled the role of her sister.
“It was more than a friendship for me,” Ramirez said. “I honestly feel that being in the program opened a door for me to go to UCLA.”
Sarah Sands, former director of the mentorship program, said students founded the group in 2001. She said it is modeled after the Big Brother Big Sister Program, which is a national organization that pairs youths with young adults who act as role models.
The mentors focus on introducing kids to the possibilities of college by getting to know them on the UCLA campus rather than strictly focusing on tutoring and homework help, Sands said.
Sands said the UCLA student mentors undergo training during fall quarter and work with mentees in the winter and spring. Busses bring the children from their community every other week to attend events on campus or participate in hikes or other group activities together in Los Angeles. Once a month, the mentors visit North Hollywood to have a picnic with their mentees’ families.
“The families are so appreciative their kids have role models,” Sands said. “(Many of) their parents are working two jobs and can’t go the extra mile to prepare their kids for college.”
Sands said Rubottom continued to volunteer at the mentorship program even after she graduated because she did not want Ramirez to have to adjust to a new mentor during her senior year of high school.
Ramirez said she and Rubottom clicked instantly when they met in person and quickly became a large part of each other’s lives. Rubottom visited Ramirez at home to spend time and share advice on college applications and high school struggles.
“She was truly an anomaly,” Rubottom said. “She came to me with so many hopes and goals that I knew I could help her with.”
At the beginning of the year, mentees and mentors make a list of academic and social achievements to work on. Ramirez said one of her goals in the program was to learn to open up more to others, including to her mentor.
“I grew up with an older sister, so I tried to give her the same support my sister gave me,” Rubottom said.
They both said their initial interactions over the phone were awkward, but Rubottom said that she and Ramirez found common ground in their love for memes and pop culture.
When senior year approached, the two worked together frequently on college applications.
Rubottom said assisting her mentee so closely with every aspect of college applications reminded her of how stressful and demanding the college application process was, but she said Ramirez handled it responsibly.
“It stressed me out helping her with college applications because it was like experiencing it a second time, but she’s so smart that it was like helping a well-oiled machine,” Rubottom said.
On the day UCLA admissions decisions were released, Rubottom said she texted Ramirez every 20 minutes for updates. In response, she received a one-word text message – “Chandler.”
Rubottom said she thought she would have to console Ramirez and remind her of how difficult it is to be admitted to UCLA, but when Rubottom called her, Ramirez told Rubottom she had been accepted and they both burst into tears.
Genesis Ramirez’ mother Mirna Ramirez was both overcome with joy to discover that her only daughter would become the first in their family to attend college and sad to watch her leave their home life together.
“I was crying and felt a lot of emotion,” Mirna Ramirez said. “I prayed a lot to open that door for her. I really believed in (Ramirez), and I was so sure she was going to get in. I’m so proud of her.“
She and Rubottom helped Genesis Ramirez move into her freshman dorm Thursday.
“I get so excited (for move-in day), but I also already miss her,” Mirna Ramirez said. “As a single mom, it’s difficult because she’s my only child.”
Rubottom will come to UCLA with Genesis Ramirez and her family to help her move in during Zero Week. Genesis Ramirez plans to apply to become a mentor during her first week on campus to inspire young students to work diligently the same way Rubottom challenged and encouraged her.