Sylvia, Laura Ann, Britanee and Najhaee -- Rocky Hill, CT

Sylvia's employer, People's Bank, is an active supporter of mentoring. And Sylvia, a senior customer banking representative and financial advisor at one of the Connecticut institution's branches, is an enthusiastic mentor who knows the benefits that a caring relationship with an adult can bring.

"I had some great mentors as a girl, so I thought I'd return the favor. I had a wonderful neighbor who took me under her wing and an older sister too," says Sylvia. So when a local school mentoring program attracted her attention, Sylvia jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

"I had worked with whole Junior Achievement classes but the idea of one-on-one mentoring fascinated me, says Sylvia. "I have an 18-year-old son who's off to school and has left the nest," she adds, "and I never had a daughter." Laura Ann, her mentee for the past four years, has become the daughter Sylvia never had.

Sylvia was matched with Laura Ann in 2000. Now a sophomore in high school, Laura Ann has matured into a delightful teenager and is learning about the business world by shadowing Sylvia at her job.

Sylvia finds that, contrary to the saying, three is not a crowd. In 2004, she was matched with two more mentees, Britanee, in 8th grade, and her sister, Najhaee, a freshman in high school.

Sylvia enjoys arts and crafts, card games, visits to the library and other hands-on activities such as cooking with Laura Ann, Britanee and Najhaee. "I'm a hands-on type of person and I like to keep busy, she says. "I find that activities such as cooking bring out the naturalness in a relationship. It's a great ice-breaker."

And what does Sylvia like best about being a mentor? "I believe everything comes around full circle," she says. Giving back what she received as a child "brings the warmest feelings." And best of all: "We've become friends."

Sylvia, Laura Ann, Britanee and Najhaee -- Rocky Hill, CT

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