We really want our kids, and our youth, to understand that one, knowledge is power, and two, you don't have to be shy about being educated, and being ahead of the learning curve.

Each and every day I truly wake up, I'm thankful to have a life and be alive. I'm thankful to do what I do.

As a mentor, you have to be willing to put yourself in your mentee's shoes to understand their struggles that they deal with. It's not supposed to turn into a pity party by any means, but empathy speaks volumes to a mentee in need of help rather than forced sympathy.

Each and every day I truly wake up, I'm thankful to have a life and be alive. I'm thankful to do what I do.

To give back during a holiday where it's all about giving and being thankful - I've always been blessed to have a meal on my plate during Thanksgiving - and to spread that feeling to someone else's family, it's special. This is something that is truly important to me.