By third grade, Alohna had already endured deep loss and financial hardship. She struggled with confidence and felt uncertain about what her future could hold. But then, she found WYN.

Through WYN’s mentorship program, Alohna connected with caring adults who encouraged her, helped with schoolwork, and gave her the confidence to dream bigger. She found friends, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

At times, the road wasn’t easy. She faced challenges and setbacks, but she kept going. With the support of her mentors and peers, she learned resilience, self-worth, and the power of community. Slowly, she started to believe in herself the way others at WYN believed in her.

Today, Alohna is thriving. She recently graduated from Appalachian State University and achieved her dream of becoming a teacher.

“It feels amazing to have graduated and gotten my dream teaching job. All of the hard work was worth it, and I feel incredibly blessed. I couldn’t have done it without Angela McMann (in WYN’s Mentoring Program) and WYN supporting me throughout my educational journey, from elementary to college. Angela and WYN have truly gone above and beyond to help make this possible.” – Alohna