National Mentoring Month Spotlight: Gabe Liu
January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the power of meaningful, consistent relationships. In partnership with SFUSD’s Mentoring for Success (MFS) program, SF Ed Fund volunteers serve as community mentors, offering non-academic support that helps students build resilience and develop essential life skills. During the 2024-25 school year, mentors volunteered across 19 SFUSD schools, including Gabe Liu, a first-year law student at UC Berkeley School of Law whose commitment to mentoring is deeply personal.
Growing up in Oakland, Gabe benefited from the guidance of older mentors within his family and community, experiences that now shape how he shows up for young people across San Francisco. After serving as an AmeriCorps member coordinating the MFS program at Denman Middle School, he chose to continue mentoring beyond his formal role, driven by a belief in continuity and showing up for students over time. In this Q&A, Gabe reflects on the moments that have mattered most and why mentoring is a powerful commitment for both mentors and mentees.
SF Ed Fund (SFEF): Can you tell us about yourself?
Gabe Liu (GL): I'm a first-year law student at UC Berkeley School of Law. Last year, I served as an AmeriCorps member and coordinated the MFS program at Denman Middle School. I'm originally from Oakland, and when I was younger, I relied on the support of older mentors within my community and family to grow and develop. I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to do the same for other young people in the Bay Area.
SFEF: You previously served as an AmeriCorps member coordinating the MFS program at Denman. What inspired you to continue as a community mentor this year?
GL: I was inspired to continue mentoring this year because I believe that mentoring is incredibly valuable, and continuity is an important part of mentoring. Last year, as an AmeriCorps member, I had the privilege of supporting young people in working toward their academic and personal goals. Through my service, I was reminded that students navigate many challenges in their academic and personal lives while also trying to realize their own potential. Dealing with these challenges can be isolating and difficult, especially for young people. I believe that no student should feel alone in the pursuit of their personal growth. This is what makes school mentoring such a valuable resource because it provides guidance and community at a critical time in a person's development. Moreover, public health studies show that mentoring can help students feel safer at school, focus more on their learning, and achieve their goals. However, a lack of continuity can make kids feel as though the mentorship is disingenuous or fleeting. The reason I chose to continue is that I did not want my mentees from last year to think that I would stop supporting them or cheering for them just because I no longer work at the school. Lastly, I wanted to show that being a member of a supportive community means that you show up and do what is right for your fellow community members.
SFEF: What feedback or moments from your mentees have been most meaningful to you?
GL: My favorite memories from mentoring have been witnessing my mentees' growth and success. One example is the immense academic growth I saw from one of my eighth-grade mentees. While I was working at Denman, this student would often spend his lunch recess or an hour after school with me to work on his math skills, as he wanted to score well on his standardized test to increase his chances of getting into a good high school. Through this hard work and determination, the student was able to achieve his goal of scoring high, which has made him much more confident during his high school application process this year.
I also greatly appreciate it when I learn something from my mentees. They often say funny, insightful things about events at school or in their personal lives, and oftentimes I will ask them to explain what they mean. It always makes me smile when I can tell that they are intentionally engaging with the world around them and learning from their unique experiences.
SFEF: What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mentor?
GL: I would definitely recommend mentoring to anyone considering it. I think that it is a really positive experience, both for myself and the mentees. I have felt myself grow during my time mentoring, and I feel a lot of pride when I see my mentees strive to achieve their dreams. The best advice I could give to someone about to start mentoring would be to go into the experience with an open mind and really focus on listening to your mentee. One of the most important things a mentor can do is just create a space where their mentee feels like other people hear them and care about what they are going through or have to say.
SFEF: What’s something you’ve learned about yourself through mentoring?
GL: One thing that I've learned about myself through mentoring is that I really enjoy having my opinions challenged and being forced to explain my justification for different beliefs to my mentees. My mentees are very curious, so often when we talk broadly about values, they will ask questions about what I believe and why I believe it. Explaining my personal beliefs in a way that is digestible to middle-schoolers forces me to show how these beliefs relate to my broader worldview. Moreover, I really value these discussions because I get to hear them answer those questions as well and learn a different perspective on whatever it is we are talking about.
We are currently recruiting mentors for the 2025-26 school year, and we’d love for you to join us. The next mentor training will take place on January 13. To get started, complete the SF Ed Fund volunteer application and select January 13 as your training date. After you submit your application, you’ll receive an email from our team with next steps and additional training details.