TeamMates of the Month: Kelly and Gio

December 2, 2025

When Kelly filled out his materials for becoming a mentor, he mentioned an interest in sports, as many mentors do. He decided to add one more thing – guitar.

Gio, his prospective mentee, had darkened the bubble next to music. When he mentioned to the TeamMates facilitator at his school that he played guitar, she smiled.

“Mrs. Jacobson told me that she found a guy named Kelly who played guitar. Our first day, we introduced ourselves, and we just grabbed a guitar off the wall and started playing.”

When it became clear that they’d be strumming their way through building a relationship, they relocated. Kelly suspects they were a little too loud.

“They suggested us coming up here in the music room because the instruments are here and it's quiet and it would be quieter for them around the office too.”

Gio was a bit nervous and aware that his peers might wonder why he had a TeamMate.

“For people who have TeamMates, it's kind of hard, because you get a teammate for a reason. Either you're not doing so great, or you just feel lonely or sad. So you need someone to be there for you.”

And Kelly has been there, whether they play guitar or pick up a deck of UNO cards. Kelly said playing guitar with each other often gives rise to conversations about bigger things. 

“Sometimes we've talked about perseverance, how not every day is a great day, not every time we play the guitar do we play it right.”

Kelly has been impressed with Gio’s creativity.

“Gio has created three or four different musical pieces that we will return to. The latest piece has this nice slower rhythm that he picks through. It's soothing.” 

Gio keeps picking while Kelly talks, looking up periodically to check his mentor’s reaction. Kelly credits him with bringing guitar back into his life.

“Before he and I started getting together, I wasn't playing the guitar much, not regularly like I used to. But now I do and it’s fun.”

Gio agrees and would share his view with a peer who was considering TeamMates.

“I would tell them it's a joy to just relax, be with a kind person who's cool and talented, have fun, to kind of just be yourself and that person can also be themselves. It's like a circle or like a bubble of goodness, of positivity.”

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