Stephen J. Gordon is a Student Leadership Mentor and Academic Role Model.

Stephen is a high school senior from Chicago’s South Side who is preparing to enter college. As a volunteer mentor with Urban Advocates—a college and career development program serving inner-city youth—Stephen guides eighth-grade students as they transition into high school. His mission is to help them see beyond their circumstances and believe that success is within reach.

Through his mentorship, Stephen has focused on five core lessons that equip the Urban Advocates scholars for academic and personal success:

 

Choose the Right Friends — Surround Yourself with People Who Build You Up

Stephen teaches that the company you keep shapes your future. He encourages students to form friendships that inspire growth, accountability, and integrity.

 

Study with Purpose — Success Starts with Discipline

By sharing study habits and time-management skills that helped him maintain National Honor Society status. Stephen shows younger students how consistency and focus turn goals into achievements.

 

Believe in Yourself — Confidence Creates Possibility

Many of his mentees face daily discouragement. Stephen helps them build self-esteem by reminding them that their value comes from who they are, not where they come from.

 

Make Wise Choices — Every Decision Defines Your Direction

He stresses that one moment of wisdom can shape a lifetime of opportunity. Stephen challenges his students to think before acting, teaching them to choose paths that reflect purpose over pressure.

 

Don’t Wait — Success Belongs to Those Who Start Early

Stephen motivates his mentees to begin preparing now—whether for exams, high school, or college—because readiness opens doors before opportunity even knocks.