Meet Jenn Uribe, the sweetest, most wonderful, and caring person you’ll ever encounter!!! Along with being utterly amazing, Jenn is one of the core team leaders of M.O.V.E.’s Middle School Mentoring program and HC is here to tell you all about her and her experiences!
Year of Graduation: 2019
Hometown: Plymouth, MA
Major/Minor: Neuroscience major with an Applied Linguistics minor
Fun Fact: I have an uncanny ability to be able to snatch mosquitoes from the air with my left hand.
HC: How long have you been involved with M.O.V.E.?
JU: I’ve been with MOVE since my freshman year at St. Mike’s!
HC: Have you participated in any other M.O.V.E. programs aside from MSM?
JU: Yes! In addition to Middle School Mentors, I went to the Dominican Republic last March on a service trip through MOVE and I also try to go to LUND as often as I can on Thursday’s!
HC: What initially drew you to the MSM program?
JU: I initially applied to be a mentor my first year at SMC, but I wasn’t geared towards any specific mentor program. Being present in someone’s life was the overall goal, no matter their age or program they were in! Each of the mentor programs on campus have so many individual characteristics that honestly make them so wonderful and special — so no matter what happened, I knew it would be such an honor to serve for either program!
HC: What is your favorite part about meeting with the mentees every Monday?
JU: One of the mentees said to me the other week or so, “I love going to school now because then I can be with my best friends afterwards” and I don’t think I could sum up MSM any better than that. It warms my heart seeing how all ten of the mentees consistently come to our program every Monday. Attendance is something every mentor program struggles with, but this year all the mentees have shown such strong dedication! Learning the importance of commitment is so crucial while going through middle school. Just learning to show up allows them to plant a seed that, with a little water and sunshine, will grow into the beautiful beings they are meant to be!
HC: What is something you’ve learned from MSM?
JU: One thing I’ve learned from MSM is the impact of being present. Being a mentor isn’t just about the crafts or free Alliot swipes. It’s seeing the change within the mentees and mentors through human presence. I think this can not only apply to any mentor programs, but also to any life stage of growth! Just simply practicing to pay attention in the present moment and in a nonjudgmental manner is the most humane thing anyone can do.
HC: What is one piece of advice that you would give your adolescent self?
JU: Don’t rush to grow up! Everyone always says being in your 20s is the best years of your life, but enjoy the moments right now. Learn as much as you can, speak your mind often, take pictures of everything, and laugh so hard until tears begin to stream down your rosy cheeks! Because before you know it, all those beautiful moments will soon turn into stories you’ll retell over and over again at a back table in Alliot!