By Theresa Knapp 

The Milford High School Connections Program connects student mentees with community mentors to help students navigate the college preparation and application process. 

Connections mentors help high-achieving MHS students explore academic and career paths during high school to determine next steps following graduation. Mentees are often the first person in their family to consider attending college. Students are selected during the spring of their freshman year. Enrollment is prioritized for high achieving, first generation students. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered. 

The program currently serves approximately 30 students with 25 mentors. The goal is to add up to 10 students and mentors each year. More mentors are needed. 

Amanda Masotta is a guidance counselor at the high school. 

“The Milford Connections Program matches selected, qualified and motivated Milford High School students with accomplished Milford area mentors, to assist and encourage the students in realizing their full educational potential and personal growth,” said Masotta. “It truly is a wonderful and unique opportunity for our students and our community. Milford is so diverse and has incredibly successful and helpful professionals who want to share their knowledge and insights with the next generation of students.

“I think this is a great way for our students to also get important skills in networking, relationship building and goal setting by professionals with real life experience. Some students might not have access to people who work in these careers so don’t even think of them as options. Having these connections opens up more areas of discussion and possibilities they may not have encountered otherwise.”

MHS junior Shadia Ssebyala joined the program in her freshman year, and she plans to be a labor and delivery nurse. 

Ssebyala says the college application process is a “bit overwhelming” but her mentor has been very helpful. 

“I love my mentor, she is very easy to talk to,” said Ssebyala. “I have three older siblings, but only one went to college. I really wanted someone to be able to support me throughout the college process because I don’t really know what I am supposed to be doing…My parents went to college outside of the US, so the process was very different for them.”

Ssebyala says her mentor helps her work through challenges related to college and otherwise. They have been talking about essay topics and making a list of colleges to attend in the spring; her mentor will go with her. 

Ssebyala highly encourages community members to think about becoming a mentor. “It is a great opportunity that is really beneficial for both parties, mentors and mentees. You are helping someone who likely doesn't have that help otherwise. Providing that support while building a relationship is so great.” 

Brianna Rondeau is Ssebyala’s mentor. 

Rondeau grew up in Milford and is a licensed social worker/child clinician in town. She joined Connections in 2022. 

“It has been really wonderful. I am able to volunteer and give back to the school I graduated from,” said Rondeau. “I enjoy the connection with my mentee, building community relationships with other mentees, and being part of the ‘what's next’ discussion as a member of the program committee.”

She is helping Ssebyala “on what she pictures her next chapter in education and career will look like. She is driven and dedicated and has a good idea of where she'd like to attend college and what profession she'd like to go into.”

Rondeau navigated her own college prep alongside her twin sister with the help of her parents who were familiar with higher education. . 

“Some students don't have adults in their family to help them with these processes and it doesn't mean they are less deserving. It is rewarding to get to know a young person, build a connection with them, and walk with them on their journey into adulthood.”

Rondeau believes in giving back to her community, and she encourages others to consider joining Connections. 

“Even if you are unsure about being a mentor, I believe it was worth the leap of faith I took. We have a community of mentors who share ideas and work together, so you're truly never on your own. We also have a strong connection with MHS and the newest addition to that has been Amanda Masotta…This has been a tremendous help for the program.”

Masotta, the MHS guidance counselor, says about 60% of MHS graduating seniors enroll in a two-year or four-year college. “I absolutely believe that [Connections] impacts their preparation and confidence going through the college application process…The support they receive and skills they learn by being mentees gives them a stronger foundation in determining their goals and also in understanding the various options available in their post-secondary pathways.”

Masotta says student interest in Connections is high, but MHS has had to limit the program because they do not have enough mentors to support all students. She says multilingual mentors are especially needed.

“Many of our non-English speaking families feel so much more connected to the school and to their child’s education when they can openly communicate with stakeholders. Bringing multilingual professionals from the community to work with families is an incredible way to have students and families feel more empowered in the child’s academic and college planning.”

Volunteer mentors are adults in the community ranging in age and career experience. Some have just completed the college search process with their own children, some have recently graduated from college and are looking for opportunities to support the next group of learners, and others are retired and want to give back to their community. 

On average, mentors volunteer a few hours each month to work one-on-one with their mentee.  The mentors help their mentee identify post-secondary goals and build their resume for college applications with a focus on community service and extracurricular activities. Training is generally online and there are monthly mentor meetings.  

Laura Mann and Mike Hazeltine have co-chaired the Program Committee for the last five years. The committee oversees the mentoring program, makes the matches, and helps support mentors in training and development.

“Many mentors comment on the positive relationships they have established with their mentees who generally are from cultures that they would not normally interact with on a regular basis,” said Mann. “Mentors have enjoyed sharing their career experiences and knowledge with first-gen students, and from their participation they have learned so much about the lifestyles and challenges faced by so many MHS students living in their community. Mentors have often said they feel they have gained much more than they give and it is a great feeling being part of the Milford community in a new way.”

Mann says another great value to the mentor/mentee connection is the ability to help students meet guidelines and eventually analyze financial packages they might receive. 

“Having a one-on-one mentor allows deadlines to be met, which unfortunately are easily missed without someone working closely with the student. Usually, it is the parents doing this, but as first-gen students, their parents often are unaware of how to help. That is where the mentor can help,” said Mann. 

Previous Connections students have attended Merrimack College, Middlebury College, Northeastern University, Bridgewater State University, Florida Institute of Technology, Framingham State University, Salem State University (biology), University of Massachusetts (Amherst and Lowell), University of New England, University of North Carolina, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, or learning more about Connections, please contact [email protected].