Lucas has a kindness and enthusiasm that is contagious. It was an easy decision to invite him to join our 7th Mentor Training Cohort. When he completed training successfully, we were eager to match him, knowing he would make a great mentor to a youth from foster care. During the matching process, it became clear that 16-year-old Cordell* would thrive under Lucas’s caring and energetic mentorship.
At their very first meeting, Lucas remembered being around the same age when he went to his first theme park—the thrills, the excitement in his stomach, and how unforgettable it was to share it all with someone else. He asked Cordell if he’d ever been to a theme park or ridden a roller coaster. Cordell said no, but that he would love to go someday.
When Cordell’s 17th birthday came around, Lucas had the perfect plan: a theme park adventure! He picked Cordell up early on a Saturday morning. They stocked up on road-trip snacks, then hit the highway.
From the first “warm-up” coaster to the biggest, loopiest rides in the park, they barely waited in lines and experienced nearly every attraction, thanks to Lucas’s thoughtful planning and decision to splurge on special passes.
The day was packed with laughter, screams and memories. When they finally left the park, Cordell had the biggest smile—which said it all! Happily exhausted from a day full of firsts, Cordell slept most of the drive back.
“I felt very happy knowing I got to be part of Cordell’s first theme park and roller coaster experience. It is a memory I will always carry with me, and I hope it is one he will carry too.” ~Mentor Lucas
