Know a Young Person Who Needs A Mentor?
Mentors are supportive individuals who build relationships with young people by offering them guidance, support, and encouragement to help cultivate positive and healthy development. Mentors become part of a team of caring adults to support a young person. They are not meant to replace parents, guardians, teachers, or to play the role of disciplinarians or decision makers.
The role of a mentor includes encouraging positive choice, help promote high self-esteem, supporting academic achievement, and introducing a mentee to new ideas. Also, mentors leverage their relationships to help support these efforts.
Examples of some things a mentor might help a young person with include:
- Setting academic and/or career goals and taking steps to achieve them
- Making healthy choices in everyday life: nutrition, exercise, social activities, and beyond
- Thinking through a problem at home or school
What Makes a Good Mentor?
- A sincere desire to learn from and share with a young person
- Respect for young people
- Active listening skills
- Empathy
- Ability to see solutions and opportunities
- Flexibility
Benefits
- Have fun
- Learn more about them
- Improve their own values and self-esteem
- Gain a better understanding of other cultures and develop a greater appreciation for diversity
- Feel more satisfied and productive and have a better attitude at work
Relationships matter. Making a connection with a young person in your community will change not only their life, but yours as well.
Get Started!
Before you start to look at the programs that are available, think about and identify your own interests and needs. Finding a mentoring program you’re excited about and comfortable with can require some time and thought, but the good news is that there’s something for everyone. The following steps will help walk you through the process of choosing a mentoring program that is right for you. To help you decide which type of mentoring program you want, ask yourself the following questions:
- What time commitment can I make?
- What age of youth would I like to work with?
- Would I like to work with one child or with a group of children?
- Would I like to team with other adults to mentor a child or a group of children?
- What types of activities interest me? Do I want to help a youth learn a specific skill, pursue an interest, help with schoolwork or just be a caring adult friend?
- What mentoring location would I prefer?
- Remember to be open and flexible to all the different mentoring programs and focus areas that are out there. Once you’ve thought through some of these questions, you’re ready to start looking at programs!