My name is Meher Kaur Bachher and I am a first-generation Sikh. When I moved to Piedmont in first grade, I was one of the only Indian kids in my entire grade. It stayed that way for around 3 years, and therefore, that aspect of my experience was quite isolating. Actually, to this day, I know no people that are Sikh in Piedmont. When you are constantly surrounded by a group of people that make up the majority, there is a natural need to feel like you need to conform to their identities. My hope this year is to represent the finding of duality between embracing your own culture without having to conform to others.   

My name is Charlotte Silver, my pronouns are she/her. I'm a sophomore at MHS. I was motivated to join this program to educate younger students about learning differences. I have dyslexia. I went to a school called Raskob for 6 years that specialized in teaching kids with learning differences. At Raskob I not only learned how I learn best but also how other people learn. I truly believe that I can help other kids understand the way they learn best, and tools that will help them understand better and succeed. 

Hi, my name is Adelina Mbise, I am a 10th grader at MHS and I identify as she/her. I am half American and half Tanzanian. I  lived in Tanzania until I was 8 and then moved to the USA. I am looking forward to being a mentor this year and helping younger students embrace their culture.

My name is Kalyani Spieckerman and I’m a sophomore at PHS. I identify as mixed/Asian/South Asian (I’m half Indian and half Eastern European Jewish),
and my pronouns are she/her. Growing up in such a white community, I have always felt a little bit different, and super underrepresented. I really wish I
had other South Asian people to look up to in elementary school, as I feel
that representation is extremely necessary in order to help create safe spaces for people of color, by expanding the worldview of those people of color as well as white students. I really enjoyed this program last year and I’m so excited to keep on going!

Hi! My name is Evolette Mak (she/her) and I identify as East-Asian American. I’m now a sophomore at PHS and this is my first year in the Affinity Mentorship Programs. I moved to Piedmont in eighth grade from a community of mostly other Asians and this drastic shift has opened up my eyes about to deal with “different” than the majority of the district. I want to help kids understand that it’s okay to accept each other’s differences and that everyone should be treated with respect and equality. I’m excited to see what we can do this year!

Hi! My name is Stephanie Lee (she/her), and I am a sophomore at PHS! I identify as Asian-American- I am ½ Chinese and ½ Vietnamese. This is my first year as an affinity mentor, and I am really excited to see how this year unfolds! I decided to join this program because I want to be someone that younger kids who are of similar ethnicity and race as me can relate to and feel comfortable confiding in. I have lived in Piedmont my whole life- I attended preschool, elementary school, middle school, and now high school here. The lack of diversity in Piedmont made me feel a little out of place: I always noticed the differences between my peers. Each little unique detail and difference I noticed about myself made me feel more and more insecure. Until middle school, I didn’t know any other Vietnamese children. I often got labeled into a broad category of “Chinese”: it felt as if the Vietnamese half of me was being neglected. I want to make sure that children, especially those of mixed culture and ethnicity, feel acknowledged, accepted, and embraced for all the parts of their identity. No one should ever have to hide or ignore a part of who they are. 

My name is Priyanka Seshan (she/her) and I’m a sophomore at PHS. I identify as South Asian/Asian. This is my first year in Affinity Mentorship and I’m super excited to see how it unfolds! I joined the program because I wanted to be able to help kids navigate through the Piedmont school system and help them feel like they are important to their community and that they truly belong. I’ve lived in Piedmont for 5 years, and I moved in the middle of 5th grade. It was a weird experience, especially because I moved from a community that was not predominantly white. When I moved to Piedmont, there were only 2 other South Asian kids in my grade in elementary school and 4 in middle school. I felt like I didn’t have anyone to relate to and guide me through those years so I hope to be that person for other little kids.