Mentor Testomonials
Working with RIF has truly been a transformative experience for me. I joined this program with
the goal of helping international students feel welcomed, comfortable, and supported and I’ve
come away just as changed as I hope they have. The conversations we share, the laughter, and
the cultural exchanges have opened my eyes to the beauty of different perspectives and the
strength found in connection.
"Language has the capacity to transform our cells, rearrange our learned patterns of behavior,
and redirect our thinking." – Eve Ensler, This I Believe. This quote beautifully captures the heart
of what RIF is all about. Language is more than just words it’s a bridge between people, cultures,
and ideas. In RIF, we create a space where international students can use language to express
themselves freely, gain confidence, and connect with others in meaningful ways.
Through open conversations and shared experiences, we begin to unlearn stereotypes, shift our
perspectives, and grow together. The simple act of speaking and listening becomes a powerful
tool for transformation for the students and for us as mentors. It’s in these moments of genuine
exchange that we begin to understand one another, not just with our minds, but with our hearts.
Ensler reminds us, “We must be willing to give up the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life
that is waiting for us.” That’s exactly what happens in every GBM, where planned lessons often
lead to unplanned moments of joy, understanding, and community.
I love getting to know each student. Their stories, their dreams, and the places they call home.
It’s not just about mentoring; it’s about building friendships and creating a space that feels fun,
safe, and empowering for everyone. In this shared space, I’ve learned that while we may come
from different parts of the world, our desire to connect, belong, and grow is something we all
hold in common.
"The more we can be open and listen and exchange and not try to control or define people, the
more we’ll learn about ourselves." That, to me, is what RIF is all about.
Hannah '25
My experience as a RIF mentor has been very fulfilling. This is my second semester as a mentor and I have enjoyed connecting with new people and being able to use my free time towards a meaningful experience. Watching my mentees build their confidence and grow to love reading more and more is incredibly gratifying. Not only are they learning from me, but I am learning to be more empathetic and patient. At every meeting, my mentees push me to be more creative, especially when trying to explain foreign concepts. I am excited to see the rest of my journey as a mentor and hope I can help even more mentees.
Ananya '25
It has been an amazing experience being part of Reading Is Fun (RIF). I first joined the club in the fall of 2023 as a mentor. As an aspiring teacher, I thought the club could provide a great opportunity on first-hand experience of helping others. The opportunity to be part of RIF has succeeded all expectations. The most rewarding part is working with the international students, and improving their English skills. Seeing the improvement every week of the international students improving their analysis, grammar, and summarization skills gives me great satisfaction. To know that I am making a difference in helping the mentees improve on their own has affirmed that this was the best decision that I have made. ​The spring semester of 2025, I became Vice President of RIF. My duties have expanded to organizing events for the club and its members, outlining the different warm-up games and books that will be read during the semester, and communicating with the remaining members of the e-board in ensuring that everything is running smoothly. Being Vice President has been a great experience, as it allows me to give back to a club that I have much love for. To know that I am carrying the great work of RIF done by past members is a heavy, yet rewarding responsibility that I don't take lightly. ​Reading Is Fun has been pivotal to my college experience, and I hope it is the same for many others. ​
Kevin Yu 26'
It has been such a wonderful experience to work with Reading is Fun (RIF) this past semester. As someone who grew up constantly reading, it has been nice to be able to find time to read at least once during the week, especially with a busy schedule. Since starting college, I barely found time to read as often as I used to, and usually only have time to read books needed for classes. Being able to become a mentor for RIF has been one of the best decisions I’ve made so far in my college career.
​
With RIF, I found the amazing opportunity to find joy in reading as well as helping students who are speakers of other languages feel more comfortable in their language development. It has been rewarding to watch the mentees grow more confident and comfortable in speaking and reading in English. I’ve been reading Paper Towns by John Green, but I have also read Modern Love a few times throughout my time at RIF. Both books use more complex sentence structures, literary devices, and cultural anecdotes that were a bit difficult for the mentees to understand at first. But, the other mentors and myself, were able to teach the students how to make use of context clues and not be afraid to ask any questions they may have. For example, in Paper Towns, there is frequent mention of prom. One student asked me what exactly a “prom” was which made me realize how different American culture is compared to cultures around the world. I enjoyed this specific teaching moment because I was also learning more about different cultures while explaining the concept of prom to the student.
​
RIF has been such a great experience as I not only get to help others but also get to learn more about different people and what learning methods work for others. I aspire to become a teacher to speakers of other languages, and I have learned so much about myself through working with RIF. I highly recommend becoming a RIF mentor if you also intend to work with teaching other languages or want to get back into your love of reading! RIF allows the mentors and mentees to come together and remember the joy of reading.
​
By: Nayeli Lopez 21'