Empowering the Next Generation: A Career Mentor’s Experience

Career Mentor volunteer Bridget Poston, who owns Beeline Copy and works at Peoples Bank, has been mentoring with BB2C for the past three school years.

Bridget Poston wears many hats—she’s a career mentor volunteer at Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C), owns Beeline Copy, and works at Peoples Bank. About three years ago, she discovered BB2C during a community network event. Inspired by their mission, she decided to get involved, building meaningful one-on-one relationships with students.

Bridget’s mentoring journey has included mentoring three middle school students over the past three years, one per year. All three of her students had unique personalities and aspirations. 

She reflected on the training and support that BB2C provided through the program: She appreciates BB2C’s comprehensive onboarding process, which includes a one-day training session and a binder full of resources, activities, and guidance. This year, the program added Clifton Strengths Finder for students and mentors, which has enriched her mentoring experience and helped strengthen connections with her student. She shared that weekly in-person meetings with her student, along with regular texts and emails, create consistency and foster trust.

Her favorite moments often come from watching students, like her past mentee Mia, blossom. Initially quiet and shy, Mia gradually opened up, sharing insights about school, her personal life, and challenges that she was figuring out. Bridget emphasizes creating a safe space where students feel heard and understood, discussing everything from career interests to personal growth. Her current mentee, Abby, for instance, dreams of owning a bakery—a passion Bridget can uniquely support as a fellow female entrepreneur.

Through gratitude exercises and weekly reflections, Bridget helps students adopt a positive mindset and explore their potential. She reflects, “This is the next generation of kids who are going to do great things. It’s a chance to help them solve problems, ask questions, and believe in themselves.”

Mentoring has taught Bridget to meet students where they are, approach them with compassion, and embrace flexibility. She encourages others to give mentoring a try, saying, “You have the opportunity to guide students, share your experiences, and make a lasting impact.”

BB2C’s Career Mentor Coordinator, Barb Schafer, shares, “Bridget’s Career Pathway Story is quite unique and we are thrilled to have her working with our students. Her positive energy and can-do attitude offer our students hope.”

For Bridget, the rewards are clear: seeing her mentees grow, succeed, and send heartfelt thank-you letters, a testament to the impact she’s made.

If you’re interested in being a Career Mentor volunteer with BB2C, email bschafer@bb2careers.org for more information.