Pavitra Kandadai: Mentor and High School Program Manager

Written by: Eliquetzal Gutierrez

An essential key to the success of The Reach Foundation is the dedication and active involvement of the mentors and mentor managers, Pavitra Kandadai is no exception. As a professional, Pavitra studied accounting at the University of Madras in India. She moved to the United States in 1988 and since then largely worked in the compliance and controlling sections of accounting. Throughout her years of living and working in California, Pavitra has become aware of needs in the community, sparking a desire to give back. 

For many, the motives to volunteer with The Reach Foundation, stems from a desire to serve, do good and help people in the community. Pavitra said, “It is good to get out of the Bay Area bubble and offer support.” So, when she saw a post made by the co-founder of The Reach Foundation on the Nextdoor site, she felt lucky to have found a way to help. Pavitra first began working with The Reach Foundation as a mentor for a senior at Santa Clara high school. 

As someone who did not complete an undergraduate education in the United States, Pavitra had no first hand experience on how to navigate the educational system yet the availability of the coordinators and the organization of The Reach Foundation made it possible for her to effectively help her mentee. Pavitra enjoyed mentoring her student all through the college application process and has loved continuing to work with her as a Reach Foundation Fellow. 

When beginning her second year with The Reach Foundation, Pavitra did not think twice when she was asked to become a program manager. In this new responsibility, Pavitra has enjoyed working with a variety of students and their mentors. Throughout her time as a program manager, she regularly checks in with mentors and students to provide further support. She has found the way The Reach Foundation advises its mentors and students to make financially sound decisions for college is crucial for students to graduate. Pavitra highlights, “At eighteen years old, you don’t know very much about all this, I really like that we guide our students to make decisions that are monetarily sound”. 

Furthermore, freshman year of college is critical and demands a great amount of support to successfully continue. For this reason, Pavitra has found that the practice of weekly meetings between mentors and mentees are a great way to help students meet deadlines and maintain a healthy mentor-student relationship. 

She advises mentors to consider the value of fostering a relationship where the student feels comfortable reaching out when they need help. In her case, an indicator of this strong relationship is that her student feels comfortable texting her when she is confused about a form or is unsure about the process of an application. Additionally, Pavitra reminds mentors it will take persistence to help a student feel comfortable to open up about their struggles and concerns. As for the students, Pavitra suggests that they consider the magnitude of the opportunity they've been given, a mentor’s time and the benefit of their experience. 

Pavitra has had the opportunity to review the, The Reach Foundation Fellow scholarship applications, in addition to working with these students. After such involvement, she has been impressed by the unbelievable amount of promise these students demonstrate and their achievements. The difference The Reach Foundation and its volunteers make is what will empower first generation college students to pave the path they hope for their educational journey. 

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