The Transformers

To transform is to change or convert. Rachel Cohen, who experienced her own transformation as a? former journalist turned software engineer, found a new opportunity for growth when she met her mentee, Lashanda Anakwah,? a self-described "sheltered" HS sophomore. In the years since, their lives and their relationship have moved beyond mentor and mentee, growing into something far deeper, richer, and lasting.???

In celebrating our 25th anniversary, we're returning to early iterations of Girls Write Now, in order to appreciate just how far our programs, and our people have come. Let's call these two The Transformers.

Tell Us About Your Life@GWN. When Did You Finish Your Mentor/Mentee Year?

Rachel: Lashanda and I were officially matched during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. I’ve continued to volunteer as a mentor and in other roles, off and on (mostly on!) in the years since.

Lashanda: In my sophomore year of high school, my humanities teacher Ms. McMurdo suggested I apply to Girls Write Now. That was 2010. I was a mentee for two years, graduating Girls Write Now and HS in 2012.

Being a part of Girls Write Now was transformational.

I was very sheltered growing up and never really went outside of the Bronx, especially unassisted, but Girls Write Now had me traveling into Manhattan for workshops and to meet with Rachel, my Mentor. With the help of Girls Write Now, I accomplished things I never imagined myself doing before the program.?

What Do You Do for Work? What’s the Most Exciting Part of Your Job?

Rachel: I’m a reporter-turned-software developer, and the two jobs are less different than it may seem - one similarity is the satisfaction of creating something that provides a service to whoever is reading/using it.

Lashanda: I work as an editor at Tiny Reparations Books. It’s a relatively new imprint that is a part of Penguin Random House. As an editor I’m able to acquire books that will later be published and sold in the marketplace. Before a book is picked up by a consumer, there is an editorial process that takes place where an editor (me in this case) works with the author to polish a book into its best form.?

Book editing may not be the most exciting job, but I am always incredibly excited to come across a new wonderful read I can add to my list.?

In less than three weeks on April 23, Girls Write Now releases our 25th anniversary book. In celebration of this new book, we're featuring conversations and experiences in the Life@GWN series this year from current and alum pairs.

Is There One Thing that Instantly Makes Your Day?

Rachel: I'm on a Masters swim team, and no matter how my day went, I always feel better after attending a practice.

Lashanda: Good chocolate never fails to make my day better.?

What’s Your Idea of a Perfect Day?

Rachel: Going for a long, relaxed open-water swim with friends in a beautiful locale then sharing a delicious meal outdoors afterward.?

Lashanda: My perfect day would consist of waking up around 8 am on a beautiful summer day, lazing around in bed to read a book I cannot get enough of, and then peeling myself away to prepare for a morning walk. The weather in this perfect day scenario would be nice and warm but not too warm, let’s say 78 degrees with low humidity. As I walked, a gentle breeze would blow my way every now and then.? After an hour I would make my way to a grand but empty park with an awesome (adult friendly) swing set without breaking a sweat! I would swing for a bit (with no judgment since the park is empty) and then settle on a bench to read more of the mind-blowing book I had to rip myself away from earlier. I’d head home after a few hours at the grand park, but on my way home a friend would reach out with plans for the rest of the day (what’s better than plans that fall into your lap?). The friend would ask me to meet them in someone’s backyard where there’s food on the grill and great music blasting. At the backyard event, my friend and I meet great people and have great conversations for just the right amount of time. I get home around 9:30 pm, take a nice long shower before watching a great movie on a streaming service before calling it a night.?

What was your First Impression of Your Mentor/Mentee? Did it Change Over Time?

Rachel: At the fiction workshop where we were introduced to each other as a pair,

I remember there was a section in the piece she wrote that used some super effective foreshadowing. So basically, my impression was that she was a really good writer, and that certainly hasn’t changed over time!

Lashanda: I’ve known Rachel (or as I like to call her Rache) for so long, it’s hard to remember what I first thought of her. I do remember a few things—in the beginning I thought she was sort of serious, maybe a bit uptight and I wondered what she made of the goofy uncomposed kid I was very much aware of myself being at 15 (of course I didn’t see myself as a kid back then). That impression of Rachel as a bit rigid didn’t last long because one quality of hers took precedent. Her voice. It’s definitely one-of-a-kind. Besides the unique tone of her voice, 15-year-old Lashanda was impressed by the confidence in which Rachel spoke. The B&N at 86th was where we would meet for our weekly pair sessions. Rachel and I would be chatting at the tables by those magazines and a few heads would turn when she responded to something I said. Her voice was admittedly louder than expected for a place where most folks have their head in a book. Her clear bold voice never fails to make me smile.?

What is Your Favorite Girls Write Now Memory?

Rachel: When Lashanda won Scholastic awards her senior year (achieving a big goal of hers), we both received the email and I happened to see it first - then spent what felt like many hours freaking out because I couldn’t reach her and wasn’t sure if she knew, finally getting to share the news over chat.?

Lashanda: Participating in CHAPTERS, the end of the year event where mentees present a piece of their writing in front of the friends, family and other Girls Write Now supporters, was a great experience. I didn’t have much experience with public speaking, so at the time CHAPTERS was more nerve-wracking than a fun experience. And we were being filmed! But it was an incredible experience, and perhaps the first time I felt celebrated. An undoubtedly fun memory is the Josh Groban concert at Madison Square Garden I went to with Girls Write Now in 2011. Somehow they secured tickets. I had no idea who Josh was, but once the call for possible attendees went out, a quick YouTube search was all that was needed to have me concert ready. I was able to snag a ticket, although looking back, I don’t think it was a highly contested event amongst us girls. We met Josh backstage before the show. It was my first concert, and I was thrilled.