From the first time Noah* met his Friend, Jonathan, three years ago, he has been sure of one thing: he wants to attend the University of Texas at Austin.

Since then, Jonathan and Noah have been using the Roadmap Goals they set at the beginning of each school year to work towards this dream. Last year, Jonathan helped Noah to prepare and set up an interview with a friend who had attended the University of Texas and works in finance, a field that Noah finds interesting. Noah worked towards goals in school, too, making the A/B Honor Roll last spring and even landing a spot in the competitive percussion section of his sixth-grade band.

Noah first met Jonathan during a time of intense change: his father was coming back into his life after time in prison. He has no relationship with his biological mother. Now living with his grandmother and father, Noah is building a strong relationship with his father. Seeing him consistently through it all, Jonathan has been able to observe Noah’s growth over the years.

At times, Noah can be critical of himself and quick to think that something is too challenging. Jonathan finds ways to remind Noah of his wins whenever he can. Having grown up with a mentor of his own, Jonathan recalls the impact of having someone remind him of his strengths. “My mentor would approach difficult tasks and motivate me by reminding me that I was capable, so I try to do the same for my youth. It’s important to show them their wins.”

With Jonathan there to support him, Noah continues to set ambitious goals and pursue new interests. Over the summer, he chose to explore his love for cuisine and was able to attend a summer cooking camp at Sur la Table. Now in the seventh grade, he is taking a cooking class in school, and he and Jonathan are currently trying to perfect their pizza recipe. “He critiques it more than I do,” says Jonathan. “I’ll eat it and think, ‘This is great!’ Then he’ll turn to me and say, ‘This sauce could be different’ or ‘This texture is off.’ But he continues to work on it. He could be a chef one day.”

*Youth name changed for privacy.