Sherman Reid '04
Finding a Career and Bloomberg and Mentoring

A college diploma almost slipped through his grasp, but Sherman Reid ’04 somehow found a way back. In his sophomore year at Mercy, Reid admits he lost his way. “Maybe I went through a little bit of imposter syndrome. I thought maybe I don’t deserve to be here,” said Reid. 

As the only child of a single mother Reid knew the importance of a college education and he recalls watching his mother pursuing her own college degree. However, a life goal somehow got off track and by the time his grades began to slip it became hard to turn the situation around. “I took a semester off to reflect and then I realized what I had to do.” Determined to not become a statistic Reid gathered his courage and wrote a letter to the dean of the business school asking permission to re-enter his program. 

What makes Reid’s story remarkable is not only that he persevered and completed his education, but he now mentors other students and helps mentor and volunteer for iMentor, a program that matches high school students with college-educated mentors to serve as personal champions on their college journey. 

Reid found the organization through a partnership with his workplace, Bloomberg, where he is currently a sales administrator. “It (iMentor) just made a lot of sense to me when I first learned about it,” said Reid. “I liked that we meet the students at their own schools. Essentially, we meet them where they’re at.” Signing up as a mentor was life-changing for Reid. More than 11 year later, Reid is still involved – having worked with three mentees in the program and seen each through all the steps toward their college journey. He still stays in touch with the students he was paired with and sees this volunteering as more than just something he does in his free time.

Reid has been instrumental in helping promote iMentor volunteering among other Mercy alumni. Through Mercy’s partnership with iMentor students from under-resourced schools in New York City have been paired with alumni mentors with the desire to positively influence students who might otherwise lack adult guidance. In a full circle way,  many of those students may even find their way to Mercy, a fact Reid finds an inspiring result of the collaboration.

Growing up Reid says he realized how important it was to have an adult to talk to in providing life direction. “When I became a parent, I realized how important it was to be there for young people. “Being present and having someone to look up to matters to a young person,” said Reid. He encourages anyone who wants to give back or find a fulfilling role to find out more about mentoring through iMentor.