Starrmaine applied to PYD’s Mentor Match program in 2008 when she was 11 years old, in search of a mentor who would make her feel special and lend an open ear as she became a young woman. We matched her with Lisa – an energetic, compassionate junior at Boston University – and it quickly became evident that the two of them were made for each other.
The joy Starr and Lisa bring into one another’s lives is crystal clear to all those around them. When asked about Starr and Lisa’s relationship, Starr’s mother emphatically answered, “They are the PERFECT match. There is no one better than Lisa for Starr. Lisa is like one of our family members.” Starr recently echoed this enthusiasm in a match check-in when she exclaimed, “We’ve been spending a lot of time together and our match is great! We go to the movies, go out shopping, go to Red Sox and Celtics games, go for walks in the park and go out to restaurants.”
When asked about her mentoring relationship Lisa recalls, “I went into this thinking that I would be changing the life of this little girl, but she in fact has changed mine. When I’m feeling stressed out or blue, about things that are nominal compared to the obstacles that she has to deal with, Starr reminds me about what’s really important and always cheers me up.”
Over the past five years that they have been matched, Lisa has seen Starr overcome numerous hurdles, throughout it all; Lisa has been blown away by Starr’s indomitable spirit. “Starr is the happiest, most kind-spirited person I’ve ever met. She babysits her little sister without complaining so her mom can work to pay the bills, she helps out around the house, she doesn’t ask for anything […] Starr is truly an inspiration.” In 2012, Starr and Lisa were selected among matches across the state to throw the honorary first pitch at Mentoring Night at Fenway Park.
Unfortunately, Lisa will be moving to London this month for her job, so Lisa and Starr are closing their official match and plan to stay in touch as close friends. Thank you, Lisa and Starr, for being a shining star, role model match and congratulations for five wonderful years together!