Adelaide Roberts

Summer Newsletter 2026

Q: Tell us about your background and how long you’ve lived in the community.

A: I grew up in Santa Barbara, and attended public schools all the way through college at UC Berkeley where I studied English. I graduated from the University of Michigan where I received a Master’s in Communication Studies. My family and I have lived on the SF Peninsula for about 25 years. I spent my career working for nonprofit groups, including Direct Relief, the Peninsula Open Space Trust, Earthjustice, and LifeMoves.

Q: How did you initially find out about and get involved with RTE?

A: I learned about RTE through my friend (and RTE mentor) Melanie Norall, who I met when our daughters were getting ready for kindergarten in Palo Alto. Melanie shared with me how much she enjoyed working with her RTE mentees , and how warm and supportive the other RTE volunteers are. RTE also sounded like an effective and well-run organization.

Q: Does your personal and/or professional background help you in your role as a mentor

A: My background is in nonprofit fundraising and communications, so it was fairly easy to make the transition from working for nonprofits to volunteering for them. I also helped my daughter, nephew, and nieces navigate the transition to college so I knew about the process and the challenges students can face.

Q: How long have you mentored for RTE and how many students have you mentored over that time period?

A: I’ve been with RTE for two years, and currently have ten students. They will be entering their freshman, sophomore, and junior years this fall.

Q: How do you establish a connection with your mentees?

A: I really like the RTE practice of mentors meeting with students one-on-one for coffee shortly after high school graduation. They have the summer ahead of them, so there’s time to prepare for college. It’s fun to hear about their plans and it’s good to have a chance to go over anything that still needs to be resolved.

Q: In what ways have you helped your students?

A: I hope I have shown them that I care about them and their college journeys, and that they can turn to me for help with anything along the way.

Q: What situations are challenging for your students? How do you help them?

A: Some of my students have found it tricky to balance school, work, and family obligations, while others have had a tough time feeling like part of their college communities. I also have worked with students who did not receive on-campus housing as freshmen and some who have had difficulty with specific courses. Everyone is different, and each journey is unique, so I have tried my best to listen, understand, and brainstorm with them about possible solutions.

Q: What has been a challenge you have faced as a mentor and how did you overcome it?

A: Although the students know we need to be in regular contact, sometimes it can feel like I’m pestering them when I reach out. So I try to find topics that are not too heavy to lead to conversations. In mid-October, for example, I might reach out to ask about Halloween plans, then go from there into conversations about mid-terms.

Q: What is your favorite thing about mentoring?

A: The students I work with are so kind and thoughtful. They often ask about me and my daughter (she is in college too) even though our conversations are supposed to be about them! I also love it when they overcome difficulties in challenging classes, improve from one semester to the next, or secure exciting internships. It’s really rewarding to see them persevere and do well.

Our mentors are the heart and soul of our program! Please contact us if you would like to become a mentor.