One question that always comes to mind seems to be "is there a need?" According to mentoring.org, more than 17 million young people between the ages of 10 and 18 in the United States are at risk of not living up to their potential. Because of circumstances in their lives, they do not have a strong support system at home. About two and a half million are currently in mentoring relationships with an adult. The rest (15 million) are considered to be in the "mentoring gap."
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is simply one-on-one relationships between caring adults and children. Mentors do not take the place of a parent or a therapist. They are involved to offer a little extra support for the child. The more an adult can meet with the child, the better the outcome. Most of the arrangements last an average of nine months, while others last an entire year. The minimum time required for mentoring is an hour a week for twelve months.
Mentoring Motivators
Why do people choose to become mentors? There are several main reasons: they want to make a difference in someone's life, they want to help a young person succeed, or they want to give back to the community. In addition to what the mentor receives, there are big benefits for the kids themselves. One is with their education. Mentors often assist with school work and study skills. Another benefit is the fact that many families today need more support. Those families may be single-parent homes or homes where both parents are working full-time jobs or have taken on extra jobs to help make ends meet.
Mentoring Works
The benefits of mentoring are obvious. Mentors help students focus on their education, provide a positive alternative to free time, and help them develop a better relationship with their own family. One of the biggest mentoring organizations is Big Brothers Big Sisters. According to a national study they commissioned, after 18 months with mentors, the kids were 46% less likely to begin using drugs and 27% less likely to begin using alcohol. The study also showed a decrease in the incidents of skipping school.
How to Be a Great Mentor
Don't expect to begin a mentoring relationship and see immediate results. In fact, there are some relationships that never quite get off the ground. Set reasonable expectations for yourself and your mentee. Always look for teachable moments and reward each accomplishment. Remember you are the adult, but you are not the child's parent. Be willing to listen and to offer suggestions, but don't dictate their life or career options. You are there to guide them and to help open doors for their future.
Getting Started as Mentor
Once you have made the decision to become a mentor, you will need to find a young person in the community. One of the first places to check is the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Another option is visiting mentoring.org and looking for opportunities according to your zip code. Use that list to narrow down the options for you.
When you have found a match, get started right away. Your involvement in that child's life just might help bridge the mentoring gap.
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