Cristian Mendez currently attends Southern New Hampshire University and is a member of the class of 2026. A 2022 graduate of Richmond High School, Cristian plans to major in Business Management at Southern New Hampshire.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Is there anything in particular that motivates you as you go through college and prepare yourself for a career?

A:  I am very passionate about helping others reach their educational goals. My sister motivates me to continue my college journey. She has previously graduated from the same school as me and I was amazed at how quickly she got into a job she loved that was relevant to her career choice. Being able to be successful in college wouldn’t just be an accomplishment for me but for my entire family that supports me throughout my journey. College for me is an amazing opportunity to be able to further expand my education and while it is challenging, it is an amazing opportunity I am grateful for.

Q: How has Richmond Promise played a role in your education?

A:  Richmond Promise has played a huge role in my education since it allowed me to get support while in college and provided funds to help towards my student debt. While some people see Richmond Promise as just a scholarship they also provide great mentors and helpful presentations to help support future college students. Richmond Promise also encouraged me to help mentor other students that were in the same situation as me.

Q: Why did you choose to be a Richmond Promise Summer Associate and what are you hoping to take from the experience?

A: I choose to be a Richmond Promise Summer Associate because I got encouraged by the amount of support I received from Richmond Promise itself when I was in college. I’ve always had a passion to help others with their education goals and this Richmond Promise Summer Associate opportunity was an amazing way to get started on this career. I am hoping to be able to learn more about how to help my community with this opportunity.

Q: What do you want to contribute to Richmond and/or the world?

A: I want to help change the education system to favor everyone equally. I want to do this by allowing all students to receive all the support they need in their education journey. To do this, I wish to lower college tuition costs and allow all students to get all the necessary information they need to attend college.

Q: Can you tell us about your current college experience?

A: I currently attend Southern New Hampshire University, which is a private online course college. During my time there, I have received amazing support from my professor and was able to get educational support anytime I needed it. My college experience so far has been challenging and quite expensive but I will make sure to make myself and my family proud and push past all the challenges and get my bachelor’s degree along with my education.

Q: What are you looking forward to after receiving your bachelor’s/transferring?

A: I am looking forward to becoming a mentor for other students that are looking to continue their education and help provide them with the necessary information they will need to know. I would like to become a teacher or a mentor to be able to accomplish this. I am also looking forward to the future of our education system!