Theresa Mulligan and Stephanie Lopez were matched as a mentor and a mentee pair almost a year ago. Theresa’s first impression of Stephanie was that of a “shy and sweet girl”, who she found to be really talented and bright when they got to know each other better.

“Stephanie has a big heart and loves her friends and family,” says Theresa about her mentee. “She’s a very honest and warm person and has a great ability to make you feel comfortable around her. She’s always up for any writing exercise I throw at her and always surprises me with where she takes it. I absolutely love her writing.”

In turn, Stephanie describes her mentor as both caring and the funniest person she’s ever known. “I can’t imagine having any other mentor,” she says, “because she is not only my mentor, but one of my best friends and role models.”

Stephanie was hesitant at first about joining WriteGirl after hearing about it from a family friend. Now she is really thankful and happy that her parents insisted she try it. Since she joined she says she has become so much more self-confident about her writing and her own self. “I am now not afraid to be myself through my writing, because I’ve grown as a person,” Stephanie says.

It’s amazing to hear those words from a sixteen year old girl, but its no less amazing to see that her mentor has also gained from the experience. Theresa shares that hearing the suggestions she has given Stephanie has helped her become more confident herself. “When I doubt my work, I think of how I wouldn’t want Stephanie to doubt hers,” Theresa says. She says she has also learned from her mentee’s fresh outlook on writing.

During their weekly mentoring sessions they write stories or poems from WriteGirl writing experiments, doing exercises that will get them writing in a way they normally wouldn’t. And as they read their pieces out loud to each other and discuss them, they talk about what happened during the week.

When asked as to what it takes to be a writer, Theresa says among other things, discipline and hard work as well as expressing oneself. Stephanie adds that it also takes confidence and an open mind. Both agree that WriteGirl’s monthly workshops let them interact with other writers and share their own creativity with everyone.

“I visit the workshops to be open to other styles of writing and to be inspired by others,” Stephanie said. “In future I want to be a short story writer and to be able to place my artwork in my books.”

Theresa Mulligan is a television comedy writer and a mentor in WriteGirl.
Stephanie Lopez is a junior at Pacific Hills Prep School.



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