July 6, 2023
Thanks to the Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI) Leadership Mentoring, Brandon Collins — a May 2023 grad in economics—has gotten the chance to make a positive impact on a young person in the community while growing himself.
How would you explain the Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI) to someone that’s never heard of it?
NHRI is a program that pairs UNL students with Lincoln students grades 6–12 for leadership mentoring. I was paired with a 7th-grade student named Jeffrey Akpa and met with him weekly for 3 years, allowing us to build a really special relationship. As mentors, we take a class together learning about leadership and emotional intelligence. Through it all I have felt like I have learned far more about leadership than I have taught Jeffrey.
Talk about why you decided to apply to Nebraska, and specifically get involved with NHRI.
Growing up in Omaha, UNL was always on my radar and chose to come here after getting into the Business Honors Academy. It was actually a senior in the Academy who befriended me and recommended I investigate NHRI. After looking into it, I chose to get involved because I wanted to engage with the community beyond campus and I liked the idea of being paired for 3 years.
How long have you been meeting with your mentee? Tell us about your experience working with one student over the years.
I have been meeting with Jeffrey for 3 years now. We began meeting in the spring of 2020 and have met all the way up to my graduation this May! We started meeting during Covid, so having to meet on zoom for almost the first 2 years was a big challenge. However, we made it work and found activities to do like analyzing YouTube videos and playing online chess. Since meeting in person, we have made it a point to get out and do something fun, we even went rock climbing once! Over three years I have been able to see Jeffrey grow so much, and I really feel that I got to be involved in his life at the perfect time. He started his freshman year of high school at the same time I started my senior year of college, so we learned how to cope and prepare for change together.
What is your favorite part about working in the community?
The best part of working with local children is watching them grow and turn into amazing young adults. Jeffrey has been an inspiration to me throughout our time together. He published his first book in 6th grade before I ever started meeting with him. From day one, I’m pretty sure that he was the one mentoring me. However, Jeffrey is just one of many students in our city doing amazing things, and getting to see that is so encouraging to me.
How do you think your involvement in NHRI will help you in the future?
My time in NHRI transformed my leadership and communication skills. The class takes an academic approach to leadership, teaching it as a skill and impressing the importance of emotional vulnerability in building strong relationships. It certainly took me out of my comfort zone and that’s exactly what made it so impactful. Taking that into 3 years of practical experience with mentoring has rebuilt my approach to relationships in a way that will help me the rest of my life.
Talk more about working with your mentee. What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from working with him?
The greatest lesson that I have learned is not to underestimate young people. Jeffrey taught me that very clearly as he repeatedly beat me in chess. Through our time together, Jeffrey has shown more maturity and dedication than most of the college students or adults I work with. The young people around us are quite literally the future, a future that will certainly be bright if we elevate and invest in our young people.
What or who inspires/motivates you?
I have always looked to my parents for inspiration. My dad’s determination and commitment to completing every task to the best of his ability has served me throughout my education. On the other hand, my mother’s passion for helping others and willingness to get out of her comfort zone has inspired my travel plans for the next year. They have been a constant support in my life, and I certainly would not have gotten to where I am without such great role models.
Who has impacted your time at Nebraska?
The Academy senior that recommended NHRI to me was also in my fraternity and really acted as a mentor to me early in college. His guidance set the trajectory for what I have done over my 4 years at UNL and I am so thankful for that. To this day he remains a close friend who I now look to for guidance on the transition out of college and into the ‘real’ world.
What is one piece of advice you would give an incoming Husker looking to make an impact in the community?
Don’t be afraid to get involved off campus. UNL creates its own little bubble that can be difficult to escape from. Campus involvements are great too, but UNL is just one part of the city and if you never get out, you’ll miss out on many of the opportunities Lincoln has to offer. Beyond that, we as a part of the campus community receive a lot of support from the wider community and should generously give back in return. NHRI is a great place to start, however, I also encourage everyone not to overlook organizations that are independent of the university.
What has made your Husker experience remarkable?
All the incredible friends and mentors I have had over the years has made my Husker experience remarkable. From the beginning of college, my Academy advisors have been a blessing and resource for anything I need. Now, in my senior year, the professor emeritus who agreed to advise my thesis has been critical in shaping my trajectory after college. There are so many incredible people here at UNL who are happy to invest in passionate students.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
I have plans to eventually attend graduate school for economics, however, I am taking a gap year to seek an international cultural exchange. In August I will kick off an extended travel trip with an independent work/study program in Portugal focused on community building and sustainable development. After finishing my education, I hope to pursue a career in public policy analysis specializing in community economic development.