By Anchell Aguy

Returning to the place where your journey began is a profound experience, but returning with the opportunity to lift up the next generation is a true blessing. As a proud graduate of New Heights, I am filled with immense gratitude to be back in these familiar halls, serving our community through the Peer Mentoring Initiative, graciously sponsored by the Haitian Community Partner Foundation.

Walking through these doors again reminds me daily of the foundation this school built for me. To now stand here as an alumna and mentor is one of the greatest honors of my life. Through our Peer Mentoring Program, we are blessed to create safe, empowering spaces where students can learn, grow, and feel deeply supported in who they are.

Cultivating Connection and Growth
One of the most rewarding pieces of this journey has been leading our workshops on healthy relationships. These sessions provide our students with a sacred space to speak openly about the things that truly matter to them

• Heartfelt Communication & Mutual Respect
• Healthy Boundaries & Self-Worth
• Recognizing Positive vs. Unhealthy Behaviors

It is profoundly inspiring to witness how eagerly these students lean into these honest conversations. Their vulnerability, brilliance, and desire to grow fill me with so much hope for the future.

Lifting as We Climb
Beyond the workshops, peer mentoring is rooted in the power of pure connection. It is about looking into the eyes of these young people and showing them that someone who once walked these exact same halls believes in them unconditionally.

Being a mentor has taught me that the greatest gift we can offer is our presence and our belief in someone else’s potential. I also understand that success is never just about personal achievement—it is about reaching back and lifting others as you climb.

A Heart Full of Gratitude
Giving back to the community that poured so much into me is both a sacred responsibility and an absolute privilege. I am profoundly grateful to New Heights and the Haitian Community Partner Foundation for trusting me with this mission. Together, we aren’t just mentoring; we are helping a beautiful generation of future leaders grow into the confident, healthy, and empowered change-makers they are destined to be.

About the Author
Anchell Aguy  graduated in 2022 as part of New Heights’ very first graduating class. Today, she is working full-time at New Heights, dedicated to ensuring that every single student receives the guidance, love, and support needed to reach their college goals.