City Year Mentor

Mabinty is a former City Year Mentor who served in London from 2023-2024.

As I had just finished school and wasn’t yet sure what I wanted to do before university, I decided that City Year would be an excellent opportunity. I loved the organisations’ priorities, goals and values. Although I didn’t have a mentor, I did experience City Year in my school. Their value was clear through the way students chose to approach them and I wanted to be a part of that. I was also keen to champion for students like me to be their best selves.

My City Year experience has had a significant impact. It has pushed me beyond my comfort zone. As a recent student, I didn’t believe that I could be a successful role model but the opportunities to develop my confidence and speaking skills have been vast – I even delivered a Red Talk (City Year’s version of a TED Talk) to over 50 people. At the start of the year, I struggled with managing unexpected situations, finding them extremely anxiety-inducing but now take them in my stride. Having dealt with the chaotic nature of working with children, I feel prepared to handle any workplace situation.

I was also daunted by working as an adult. Being younger and less experienced, I felt inadequate and insecure and I found building relationships with school staff intimidating. However, the way City Year has a range of young people and hands-on activities made me interact. I have created strong friendships and now see myself as a valued team member. In particular, without City Year, I would never have seen myself as a leader but leading discussions, networking and organising a social action project have given me support, community and encouragement. My leadership skills have grown and I can delegate, ask others for their opinions and advocate on my team’s behalf.

Looking back, returning to my own school and becoming a confident City Year mentor, coaching other students to believe in themselves, feels like a powerful full circle moment and I am very grateful for this opportunity.