Become a Mentor

What is Mentoring? A matter of trust. Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. A mentor is an adult who, along with parents, provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there. A mentor is not a foster parent, therapist, parole officer, or cool peer.

All young people have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. All children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. However, not all children get the support they need to thrive.

By all estimates, an astounding 17.6 million young people – nearly half the population of young people between 10 and 18 years of age – live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential.

Without immediate intervention by caring adults, they could make choices that not only undermine their futures, but, ultimately, the economic and social well-being of our nation.

Mentoring – the presence of caring adults offering support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive examples – has proved to be a powerful tool for helping young people fulfills their potential.

Mentoring can help by:

Improving young people’s attitudes towards their parents, peers and teachers;

Encouraging students to stay motivated and focused on their education;

Providing a positive way for young people to spend free time;

Helping young people face daily challenges; and Offering young people opportunities to consider new career paths and get much-needed economic skills and knowledge. By using your influence and resources as a decision maker, you can bring new hope to young lives through the power of mentoring. And you'll be surprised how much you will benefit, as well.

BECOMING A MENTOR

Few bonds in life are more influential than those between a young person and an adult. As you begin your journey toward becoming a mentor, you will need to thoroughly understand the basics of mentoring before entering into a relationship with a young person.

Look at a role you are probably already familiar with. Most of us have had a supervisor, a boss or coach. Those people wore many hats. They acted as, delegators, role models, cheerleaders, policy enforcers, advocates, and friends. As a mentor you will wear these same hats.

Mentors understand the need to assume a number of different roles during the course of a mentoring relationship, but successful mentors also share the same basic qualities:

A sincere desire to be involved with a young person. Respect young people.

Listen actively.

Empathize.

See solutions and opportunities.

Be flexible and open.

As you and your mentee begin your communication; exploring values, interests and goals, you will find yourself making a difference and having a positive effect on a young person's life. What you may also be surprised to see is that you will be learning more about yourself, too. Mentoring is a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Mentoring doesn't just affect the young person.

Mentoring provides significant benefits. As a mentor, you will be

Making a difference in someone else's life. Learning about yourself.

Giving back and contributing to the future. Having fun.

If you're still not sure you understand what is expected of a mentor then just ask a young person. Good mentors are willing to take time to get to know their mentees, to learn new things that are important to the young person, and even to be changed by their relationship.

Accept the challenges and rewards of mentoring a child for a period of one school year (nine months) or longer and experience the benefits that will last each of you a lifetime.