One of the most special things about mentoring is that the relationship doesn’t always end when the program does. Sometimes, it turns into a lifelong friendship.
That’s exactly what happened with Mike and his Little, DJ.
The two were first matched in 2009 when DJ was just nine years old and in the fourth grade. At the time, DJ and his two siblings were being raised by their grandparents, and having a consistent adult in his life meant a lot. Mike quickly became that person.
Their relationship grew through simple things like bonding over sports, going to games together, and even helping coaches during practices. It wasn’t anything fancy, just time spent together doing things they both loved. But those moments built a strong foundation.
“DJ did relatively well in school and progressed through grades well,” Mike recalls. “When he got to high school, his mom was granted custody and he moved to Illinois, which officially ended our match.”
But for Mike and DJ, that wasn’t the end of their story.
They stayed in touch over the years, continuing to check in with each other through life’s ups and downs. When DJ graduated high school in 2019, Mike was there cheering him on, just like he had been for so many other milestones.
Today, DJ is 25 years old and works as a warehouse supervisor at Pinch-A-Penny. Life keeps them busy and they don’t see each other as often as they’d like, but whenever they do connect, the conversation picks up right where it left off.
Mike says it best: “I’m so proud of him.”
Their story is a reminder that mentorship isn’t just about a few years of guidance. It’s about showing up, building trust, and creating a relationship that can last a lifetime.
These stories, like Mike and DJ’s, remind us why mentorship matters. Sometimes the impact shows up years later in a phone call, a milestone celebration, or simply knowing someone is always in your corner.
