This issue's Young Rockford Woman is Stephanie Syverson, a mentor program coordinator with YouthBuild in Rockford.

Age: 24

AMY J. CORRENTI | ROCKFORDWOMAN.COM
Stephanie Syverson is a mentor program coordinator with YouthBuild in Rockford.

Education: Bachelor’s in social work from Illinois State University and master’s in social work from University of Illinois at Chicago

Job: Mentor coordinator at YouthBuild Rockford

City: Rockford

Family: Parents, Dave and Shirley Syverson; brother, Jordan Syverson.

In 10 years, I see myself ... working in the same field on a larger scale. Not only do I want the young adults in the community to reach their full potential, but I also want Rockford to reach its full potential of being a self-sustaining community. To make that happen, I see myself running some type of community organization where the key mission is working with the community and creating partnerships.

Being a woman means ... being strong when it’s the hardest, not when it’s the easiest. To be a woman is also knowing who you are and being confident in that.

I define success as ... achieving your goals by putting forth 100 percent effort and never giving up.

Why I admire my mother: I admire my mother because the things she deals with and must endure on a regular basis could, and would, break anyone, but not my mom. My mom has the ultimate patience and a positive outlook on almost everything. She is always a voice of reason.

My proudest moment so far: The first time a student I worked with said thank you. He was my most challenging student by far, and I didn’t think I got through to him at all, but the last day of the program he slipped me a note thanking me for seeing him as a person with potential and not as an “at-risk kid” and for never giving up on him. I still have the note and look at it from time to time. When times get tough, it reminds me why I’m in the career that I am. Knowing that you changed someone’s life is a feeling that is like no other.

One of my major goals is ... to affect holistic change and sustainability in Rockford. For real change to occur, we have to stop focusing on trying to change actions and behavior and need to focus on changing mindsets first. We can dump billions of dollars into cleaning up a neighborhood and building businesses, but if we don’t change the mindset of those who live in the community, all efforts will be unsustainable.

The best thing in my wardrobe ... my sweat pants! There is nothing like coming home from work and changing into a comfy pair of sweats. But when I’m not in the house, my favorite item in my closet are my heels. When it’s time to go out, there is nothing like throwing on a fun pair of heels.