A Wish Turned Reality: PEAK Mentor Makes a Dream Come True

Words cannot express our gratitude to PEAK mentor Kirti Patel. Early this spring, with the help of PEAK’s Program Manager Anthony, Kirti found just the right opportunity to motivate her scholar Jocelyn after noticing the quality of her Instagram posts and her talent as a storyteller.

Thanks to the generous support of Deloitte and Oak Park/River Forest Community Foundation, Jocelyn traveled to New York last week for a 2 week immersion course in photography and film-making. Josie has just returned from taking classes taught by industry experts and with fellow students from all over the world - - the perfect fit for a young woman who has always dreamed of studying other cultures.

Before studies began, Kirti and Jocelyn spent the weekend exploring everything New York has to offer. Diner breakfast…Times Square…Picture w/Bumblebee, Statue of Liberty, Spider-woman…NBC Studios…Radio City Music Hall…Bryant Park…Street Fair…Oculus…WTC 9/11 Memorial…

On top of it all, it was Jocelyn’s first time flying or even leaving the state of Illinois. This is what PEAK mentoring does best: show scholars new possibilities that will change their lives forever!