Our Story: How It All Started
As first-generation college students, we know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the education system without proper guidance and support. Growing up, our immigrant parents did their best to help us academically, but like many parents—immigrant or not—they had to rely on external tutoring resources while balancing work.
Fortunately, we were able to afford some tutoring services, but we quickly realized that this was a privilege not everyone had. Some tutors were so expensive that even when we desperately needed support, they were simply out of reach.
Now, as students at the University of Michigan, we regularly work and volunteer as tutors. Through these experiences, we’ve seen just how many students face the same challenges we did—struggling academically but unable to access the help they need due to financial barriers. Looking back, we often ask ourselves: What if we had someone to guide us earlier? What if we had been prepared for high school and college before it felt like it was too late? While college prep programs exist, many are costly, and high school counseling often doesn’t begin until junior year—when early preparation could have made all the difference.
These realizations inspired us to create NextGen Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality tutoring and mentorship at an affordable price. Our mission is simple: to empower students with the resources, guidance, and support they need to overcome challenges, explore opportunities, and achieve their goals.
By making education more accessible and mentorship widely available, we hope to create a ripple effect—where support and inspiration spread from one student to another, helping build a brighter future for everyone.
We believe that no student should feel lost or left behind simply because they lack resources. Every young person deserves a mentor who believes in them, a role model who guides them, and a community that lifts them up. By bridging these gaps, we’re not just shaping academic success—we’re shaping futures, unlocking potential, and changing lives for generations to come.
