Mentee, Mentor, Board Member: Juan Cuevas

Juan’s Story:

My story with Friends for Youth began in 1997. At the time, I was living with both my parents – undocumented immigrants who worked over ten hours every day. My mom was a housecleaner and my dad worked as a gardener.  My dad, unfortunately, was an alcoholic so he was pretty absent from our lives. At 13 I had to become the man of the house and make sure me and my younger sister had enough to eat. We lived in a rough part of Redwood City. As a teenager I would be exposed to gang violence, alcohol and drugs daily on my walk to the bus stop. Fear was a constant in my young life; I always had to have my guard up.

Thankfully, my friend Rene at Kennedy Middle School told me about Friends for Youth. Eager to explore outside the area I grew up in, I was matched with my mentor Trish. In the beginning, our interactions were small, and I refused to open up. As we got to know each other, I realized she was not a bad person. Trish helped me experience many things for the first time: camping, kayaking, and my favorite – a behind-the-scenes look at SFO where she worked. 

Inspired by Trish and what she did for me, I decided to become a mentor and was matched with Mateo in 2016. Mateo and I have much more in common than I initially realized. We both grew up in a single-parent household, in the same neighborhood, having to step up in families that struggled with poverty. I see a lot of myself in him. Eight years later, Mateo and I are still friends.

I became a mentor because I recognized that many kids grow up experiencing similar or worse situations. Before I met my mentor, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. Because of Trish, I realized there could be a better life for me. 

In 2023 I joined the Board at Friends for Youth. I’m proud to say I’m the first Alumni Mentee turned Alumni Mentor, turned Board Member. I plan to be a voice for these kids and use my lived experiences to make a difference in the lives of others, like myself and Mateo.

“I love Friends for Youth and what it stands for. It makes me feel good when I expose him to something new… His dad approached me and said I just want to thank you for what you’re doing for [us].”

— Mentor Juan