Connecting College with Community: Alum Danny Y. Launches Mentoring Program
Student Leadership Network alumnus Danny Y. shares how he turned his struggles in the first year of college into a mission to help others navigate the transition from high school through a college mentoring program. He is a graduate of East-West School for International Studies, a CollegeBound Initiative partner school, and attends Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Adjusting to College
What initially drew you to Babson College?
I’m a creative person and I’m interested in marketing, so studying business in an entrepreneurial setting feels like the perfect fit.
Coming from a public high school, I never imagined I’d attend a private college. When I got into one of the top colleges for entrepreneurship, it was really exciting. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity.
Danny and his family at his high school graduation 
Danny emcees his high school’s College Decision Day celebrations 
Danny currently attends Babson College
Your first year in college wasn’t what you expected. Can you talk about those challenges?
The transition was a struggle in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I experienced personal losses while trying to adapt to an entirely new environment away from home. What caught me off guard was how unprepared I felt for things you can’t learn from a college website or orientation packets. A lot of the questions you’ll have about college can’t be answered on paper; you have to experience it yourself. Everyone focuses on the positive experience, so you often don’t hear about the struggles from people who graduated from your high school.
I found myself questioning whether I belonged here. Coming from a very different socioeconomic background than many of my peers was jarring. I was a leader of student government, clubs, sports, and community organizations while in high school, but in college, I suddenly found myself just one person among many, alongside others who had more resources and life experiences than I did. It’s easy to start comparing myself to others and feeling lost in the first year.
I felt so passionately about taking this negative energy and channeling it into something meaningful… that would make the path easier for future students. —Danny
That’s refreshingly honest. How did you work through these feelings?
I reached out to friends from high school who now attend Cornell, Columbia, and other top-tier universities. It turns out everyone was experiencing this same imposter syndrome. That was both comforting and motivating. I felt so passionately about taking this negative energy and channeling it into something meaningful—something that would challenge me, create purpose, and make the path easier for future students.
I contacted my former director of college counseling, Rebecca Partap, to discuss what was missing in the bridge between high school and college. While the counseling I got in high school was comprehensive regarding applications, personal goals, and financial aid, you can’t really “teach” the social component of adapting to college. You need to talk to peers who’ve recently walked that path. Ms. Partap is an exemplary mentor and advisor, and she was so patient and knowledgeable as I refined my idea for a nonprofit that can support students transitioning to college.
Launch of Unity Scholars Network, a College Mentoring Program
How did Unity Scholars Network emerge from these conversations?
I founded Unity Scholars Network to address this communication gap between the high school and college experience. We connect college students attending top private colleges with juniors and seniors in public high schools back home, in neighborhoods such as Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Woodside. We mentor them throughout the college application process and advise on their college essays, but it goes deeper than that. (Follow @UnityScholars on Instagram for the latest updates!)
I secured funding from Babson College’s Social Innovation Fund and invested it directly back into our mentees. We coached 20 students to develop summer passion projects that give back to their communities, and funded the practical things that can stop someone from realizing their vision. For example, we funded domain names for their websites, supplies for making lunches for unhoused people, and feminine hygiene products for care kits addressing period poverty. The students are really creative and brilliant; we helped them realize they can make an impact while strengthening their college applications.
What’s been most rewarding about this work?
Unity Scholars event encourages high school and college students to expand their networks 
Unity Scholars hosted a networking event after their first year of mentorship programs 
Unity Scholars networking event encourages honest conversations about the college experience
We coached students to see that their choices weren’t limited to local public colleges and to strive for other options they want to pursue. Our first cohort achieved incredible results: acceptances to Cornell, NYU, Macaulay Honors, and other prestigious institutions. We taught them how to appeal for additional financial aid to make their dream schools accessible. But beyond the college results, being part of someone’s journey and mentoring them to see what’s possible is immensely gratifying.
What advice would you give to students who may be facing similar struggles when they attend college?
Choose quality over quantity in relationships. Instead of knowing 100 people superficially, I’d rather find ten close friends who will be truthful and supportive of me. Surround yourself with people who don’t just say, “That’s a great idea,” but ask, “How can I help?” Those connections will carry you through any challenge college throws your way.
