Encouraging Words - UGA Today
The UGA Mentor Program celebrates its third year this fall. More than 2,800 mentoring relationships between alumni and current students have been created since the program’s launch, and each one of them has its own personality. Some have continued beyond the mentee’s graduation. Three of those relationships are detailed here in the participants’ own words.
Shallum Atkinson ABJ ’17, AB ’17
Policy Staffer, U.S. House of Representatives; Washington, D.C.
Mentorship matters, trust me. I know because serving as a mentor to Jaquarius has been nothing but a blessing. It not only allows me to stay connected to the Bulldog Nation from hundreds of miles away, but it serves as a living example of how what we do today will impact the people of tomorrow.
I was always told as a Black man, when a door is opened for you, leave the room in a better place than you found it, and keep the door cracked for the next one to follow. I see in Jaquarius, a younger, brighter, and more refined version of myself. It warms my heart to see the positive changes the leaders of my time pursued to create a better environment for him.
We share memories of the many “back in my day” tales he will never understand and advice on how to simply navigate life. It’s a match made in Athens.
Jaquarius Raglin
4th Year Health Promotion and Biology Double Major
Before my mentorship with Shallum, I was focused on finding mentors who could give me advice on medical school and how to deal with STEM courses at UGA. When we transitioned to online learning in Spring 2020, I realized that I needed a more holistic type of support.
When it came time to match with a new mentor on the platform, I chose Shallum. He has a unique perspective since he attended UGA for his undergraduate studies and now works in politics in Washington, D.C. This viewpoint allowed us to have deep conversations about being a Black man at the University of Georgia and in America. We both yearn to bring positive change to the university for the advancement and success of Black students.
Though we have different intentions and majors (his being law and mine medicine), Shallum has taken me under his wing to mold me into a more intentional and well-rounded leader. I would say that he is like an older brother who I can rely on for guidance. I know that I can always count on him.