Raeeq Osman is from Brooklyn, NY. He earned his B.S. in Management at St. John’s University and his M.S. in Information Systems Technology from The George Washington University. He has worked in IT Consulting supporting federal government clients for 6+ years. In his spare time, he likes to play ultimate frisbee, read graphic novels, and play board games.
Why did you become a mentor?
I decided to become a mentor because I’ve always believed in giving back to your community in some measure, no matter how big or small. I’ve also had mentors at various stages of my life and seen the impact they’ve had on me. I wanted to be able to make that same impact on a young student.
How long have you been mentoring with CPE?
I have been mentoring with CPE since September 2018!
How have you been able to sustain the relationship with your mentee during COVID-19?
We text frequently and occasionally catch up over FaceTime. We also rely heavily on the use of Google Docs to stay on top of CPE assignments, college application deadlines, admissions essays, etc.
In what ways are you helping him get through this pandemic?
Increasing the frequency of our communication and check-ins was a major factor in helping Alvah get through this pandemic. We chatted about everything from academics to our shared passion for movies and video games. Despite so much in his life changing, I wanted our mentoring relationship to be a constant, to provide a semblance of normalcy, and to serve as a source of reassurance that I was there to help him with anything he may have needed.
What is one of your mentee’s dreams?
One of my mentee’s dreams is to pursue a career in Information Technology (IT) consulting.
How are you helping him achieve it?
I have been working in IT consulting for almost 6 years and have developed contacts with recruiters across the industry. I hope to connect him with those contacts as he approaches closer to college completion. I’ve also recently connected with CPE founder, Ted Schwab, who has invited me to join a monthly roundtable discussion with entrepreneurs and business professionals across a wide-range of industries, who have common interests to share ideas, opportunities and resources with each other. I hope to foster relationships with these individuals so they may be able to help me connect Alvah with professional opportunities in the future.
How has CPE helped you in your mentoring relationship?
CPE has helped tremendously in providing a Program Coordinator as point-of-contact with whom I have monthly check-ins with to stay on top of assignments and deadlines, but also just to discuss the mentoring relationship and to brainstorm ways that address any issues or concerns that may come along the way. I’ve also really appreciated CPE sending out regular emails about social and academic events to participate in with your mentee to help grow your mentoring relationship.
What advice would you give anyone considering mentoring?
I’d advise anyone considering mentoring to take a moment to reflect on their own time in high school/college careers and think about any adversities or challenges they had to overcome. Then ask yourself whether having a mentor could’ve helped you overcome those challenges and made an impact on your personal/professional growth. Now, imagine being that mentor and seeing that impact come to fruition as you mentor a young student. Let that mindset be your guide and a source of inspiration as you consider mentoring.