This past summer I had the privilege of being a Program Mentor at Math N More which I found was a broad term for an individual who supported administrative tasks, managed the program's social media, and worked directly with mentors and scholars throughout the day. That meant helping with check-in, addressing parent concerns, assisting with lunch and recess, and stepping in wherever mentors needed support.
Early in the summer, I helped set up and arrange classrooms and worked with the mentor team to build a smooth daily routine for scholars, from morning drop-off through afternoon. I created daily social media content to document camp activities, and I built an easy-to-use Excel sheet to track snack inventory, which the staff continued to rely on for the rest of the summer. I also helped construct mobile classroom setups and communicated regularly with parents on logistics, from attendance to minor injuries. Through this work, I developed skills in photography, content creation, parent communication, and leadership, the last of which came from regularly working with over 60 scholars at once.
The most memorable turning point came on a Monday morning when my supervisor told me, right after breakfast, that a mentor wouldn't be in that day, and I would need to lead both elementary and middle school scholars through their lessons from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. I hadn't planned for this, so I quickly put together a lesson combining origami for art and a reading lesson on "plot." I assumed the day would go since I had a plan, but I quickly learned that working with younger scholars can never stay according to plan. Keeping the room quiet to listen to instructions was harder than I anticipated, since nearly every scholar needed individual help with the instructions at the same time. I had to learn to manage several requests at once, stay patient, and alter my communication so it was crystal clear for younger scholars to follow. By the end of the day, the scholars had a meaningful lesson, completed a “plot” activity that aligned with their summer reading, and left a clean space behind for the office. I carried my learnings into the next day, leading another origami session while tying in a lesson on SMART goals and goal-setting and turning the “plot” lesson into a game for points that tested scholars' knowledge on the subject. This educated the scholars while allowing them to enjoy camp with fun activities and a competitive spirit for points.
This experience also shaped my understanding of Math N' More's mission. The organization aims to give scholars an environment where learning feels achievable and enjoyable. By being placed in a leadership role I realized I helped contribute to this mission by connecting with scholars individually rather than sticking to a strict schedule fostering learning and success. By the end of the summer, I had built a cohesive social media presence for the camp, strengthened my organizational and communication skills, and formed real connections with both scholars and fellow mentors. More than anything, this experience reinforced a goal I have set for myself: pursuing a career while giving back to my community. Math N' More reminded me that leadership isn't about giving instructions or following a schedule. It's about showing up, adjusting, and following through, even when the day doesn't go as planned. These lessons are ones I will carry into my future experiences.
This reflection is part of Georgia Tech’s Social Impact Fellows program, offered through the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact (ILSI). This program connects students with nonprofit and community organizations in Atlanta for semester-long, hands-on project experiences designed to foster co-learning, social responsibility, and personal growth. To learn more about program details and application information, please visit our program webpage.