Mentor Feature: Derrick and Maishawn
Every mentor has their own style. Derrick Chrisinger's is to act as a guide to his scholar, Maishawn, by modeling behavior – showing Maishawn how he overcomes his own challenges as a young professional.
Derrick came to PEAK having left his sunny California home for the windy city of Chicago for his first job as a Business System Analyst with Equity Residential. (Derrick now works as a Technical Business Analyst at Alliant Credit Union.) Realizing work alone wouldn’t be enough to bind him to his new home, Derrick sought out an avenue for investing in helping his fellow Chicagoans. After doing some research on a local Chicago community service website he found PEAK and became a mentor.
Derrick instantly clicked with his PEAK scholar Maishawn. Derrick describes him as showing signs of good character right out of the gate, and says he is “impressed” with Maishawn’s consistency in calling him every Thursday evening without fail. “Accountability, high goals, and transparency” are just three of the values Derrick seeks to model for his scholar. Derrick models these values by making and keeping plans with Maishawn such as studying together (whether for semester exams or the GMAT) and calling each other to check in once a week. PEAK mentors like Derrick help ensure that their scholars have positive adult role models to observe and learn from.
Gallery: Derrick and Maishawn