As I sat down to meet Angelique and Melissa, my heart instantly grew warm.  Angelique, an 8th grader, warmed me with a big smile.  Melissa, her mentor, greeted me with a cheerful hello while preparing cookie dough about to get baked. With a smile about to form and a light laughter coming from Angelique's voice, she commented, "I hope these cookies turn out better than last time.  Last time we baked cookies, somehow all the cookies melted together into one big cookie! We had to throw them away!" We both chuckled.  

Cooking and baking along with playing games, attending museums, watching plays, and visiting are just a few things these two enjoy doing together.  One of Angelique's favorite outings with Melissa was when she got to help Melissa decorate her 4th grade classroom.    

Angelique has a passion for children. Melissa commented that Angelique is wonderful with children and infants and has a curiosity along with a genuine love for them.  Another huge passion for Angelique is basketball. "I want to play college basketball for the Gophers," she explained with a passionate heart and a sincere smile.  That's one of her long-term goals along with getting a degree that would allow her to work with children. "I want to work with kids who are sick, and to help them feel better", Angelique commented with pure delight from within.  

While asking Melissa what her goals are for life, Reagan (Melissa's Daschound) jumped onto my lap.  Melissa quickly answered, "To train my dogs not to beg for food!"  After a few laughs she replied with an honest and pure answer of wanting to be a good mother, to take life as it comes, and to give back to those in need. 

I learned what draws Angelique to her mentor. Angelique explained that her favorite part of having a mentor was that she had an extra person in her life who was there for her, a thoughtful person to talk to, and someone to help her with her schoolwork. 
 
Angelique is a social butterfly at school, a superstar on the basketball court, and a loving and genuine young woman who has a huge heart for children and infants. Five years from now, I would not be surprised if Angelique was playing basketball for the Gophers while getting an education that she will use to love and take care of children. Watch out for this young lady, she will be going places!