Early Mentee: Stephie Rudolph

Mere days after her 18th birthday, Stephie found herself in the back seat of her parents’ car driving north toward a vacation they’d told her was a birthday surprise. She sat comfortably, scrolling through Instagram, oblivious to the world around her. She didn’t notice when they turned a little earlier than they usually would for the family vacation cabin. She looked up at the sound of gravel crunching under the wheels. That wasn’t normal. Ahead of her she saw a plain, colonial style house. This wasn’t the cabin she’d spent her youth going to.

“Hey where are we?”

“This is your surprise sweetie! Just hang on a little longer.” Her mom sounded cheery and it put Stephie at ease.

Her dad pulled the car up to the front door and climbed out. He waved for Stephie to follow suit. She hesitated for a moment, but both of her parents seemed so relaxed about this situation that she felt she had nothing to worry about. She climbed out of the car and followed her parents to the front door. Her mother rang the doorbell and it wasn’t long before the door swung open.