01 Oct October 2023 Mentor Spotlight
Mentor Carole Fahey and her two mentees, Naserian McClurg (l) and Brittany Zambrano (r).
Carole Fahey, Mentor
What do you consider to be your hometown? How long have you lived in Nassau County?
I grew up in Madrid, Spain. I have lived in four countries, six states and 12 cities. We have made our permanent home in Nassau County since 2013.
What made you decide to mentor with Take Stock?
I spent the last 10 years of my career as a happy high school World Languages teacher. Teaching teens showed me how a caring adult can change a life. During a visit to the Amelia Dental Group, the dental hygienist mentioned the doctors’ support of Take Stock in Children. Even though I couldn’t ask questions with a mouth full of dental equipment, I knew TSIC was the right place to volunteer my time to help students navigate the path to their future.
How many students have you mentored?
I have mentored four outstanding Fernandina Beach High School students: Ashley Sloan (class of 2019), Yafah Stadeker (class of 2020), Brittany Zambrano Arteaga (class of 2024), and Naserian McClurg (class of 2024).
What have you gained from mentoring your students?
Watching a student’s talents develop is one of the perks of the long-term relationship between TSIC students and mentors. From the first getting-to-know-you meetings of the middle school student to the ready-to-spread-wings high school senior, a mentor witnesses the steady growth in confidence and maturity.
Naserian’s superpower is her creativity. She is an excellent writer and artist. Her brain is quick to explore new ideas, even when finding inspiration from history and tradition. Something that Naserian and I share is a love of art. I am delighted when Naserian shows me her recent artwork. Even on virtual meetings, the vitality and originality of her work is evident. I can’t wait to see her future accomplishments! Naserian demonstrates grace under pressure. When life gets rough, she has the ability to step back and assess the situation, giving herself time to find solutions. We can all learn from that!
Brittany’s superpower is her ability to get things done. She is the queen of time-management. She routinely gets work done right away to eliminate the pressure of deadlines. That’s a good lesson for all of us! Brittany also has tremendous empathy for others. As a volunteer, she creates a better world for her peers through the Hope Squad. She is a deft and engaged conversationalist, making our meetings much anticipated. Something that Brittany and I share is being bilingual. Knowing another language is an advantage for career opportunities and worldwide friendships. Lucky us! I love knowing that she will be a success at whatever she does.
Naserian McClurg, Fernandina Beach High School Senior
Why did you want to apply for Take Stock?
I wanted to apply for Take Stock so that I would have the opportunity to go to college, along with having support throughout the ups and downs of high school.
What have you learned from your relationship with your mentor, Carole?
Throughout the past three years, I have learned many things from my amazing mentor, Mrs. Fahey. The most important one being how to overcome struggles, along with being able to learn and grow from them. She has taught me the importance of taking a step back, breathing, then tackling the situation. This has benefited me greatly during big tests, stressful classes, and art projects.
What is your favorite memory from TSIC?
One of my favorite memories from TSIC was being able to meet with Mrs. Fahey in peson for the first time. We spoke about art and shared our interests and could finally show each other projects we were working on.
What are your plans after you graduate high school and TSIC?
I have always had a deep love for creating art as long as I can remember. I plan on carrying this passion into college, continuing to create and find ways to make it into a bigger part of my life and career.
Brittany Zambrano, Fernandina Beach High School Senior
Why did you want to apply for Take Stock?
Applying for Take Stock presented an awesome opportunity to ultimately help me succeed in my future career and to also create a family that includes people who see the same goals as me.
What have you learned from your relationship with your mentor, Mrs. Fahey?
One out of the million of things I’ve learned from Mrs. Fahey is that setting my mind towards a goal and doing everything possible to achieve it will be worthwhile in the end, even if it’s something we sometimes don’t want to do.
What is your favorite memory from TSIC?
My favorite memory from TSIC has to be each time I have met with Mrs. Fahey. Each meeting I have enjoyed and appreciated since the first time we met. The hilarious stories I’ve heard and lessons I’ve learned have all combined to create a very caring friendship between us that improves me for my future and as a person.
What are your plans after you graduate high school and TSIC?
My plans after graduating high-school are to go to a 4-year university where I will major in Mechanical Engineering or Aviation! I aspire to get to know the world a bit more by traveling, keeping in touch with friends and family, and learning to take what I’ve learned and put it into something I love. For TSIC, I plan on keeping in touch with the family I’ve been able to create through special bonding in some sort of way, and in case I need any future advice with what’s ahead for me!