Be a Mentor & Make a Difference
What a Mentor Is:
The word mentor is defined as a trusted friend, counselor, or guide. 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 needed for a successful future.
A mentor provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and most importantly, constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care and people who want to help. All children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society but not all children have the support they need to recognize their own strengths. If you are dedicated and ready to help change a young person's life in a positive way, you can be the motivation and support they need by becoming a mentor!
Types of Mentoring:
Youth Mentoring
The the process of matching mentors with young people who need or want a caring, responsible adult in their lives. Adult mentors are usually unrelated to the child or teen and work as volunteers through a community, school, or church-based social service program.
Volunteering in Schools
Volunteering is the practice of people working on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain. These volunteers give students a positive role model and educational success is encouraged and improved.
Mentoring in Education
In many secondary and post-secondary schools, mentorship programs are offered to support students in program completion, confidence building and transitioning to further education or the workforce.
Peer Mentoring
A form of mentoring that takes place in learning environments such as schools, usually between an older more experienced student and a new student or student needing assistance. Mentors often undergo training that will help guide them in the mentoring process.
Tutor
An instructor who teaches a specific educational subject or skill to an individual student or small group of students. Such attention allows the student to improve knowledge or skills far more rapidly than in a classroom setting, enhancing their overall educational experience.
Coaching
A method of directing, instructing and training someone with the aim to achieve some goal or develop specific skills.
eMentors
Providing a guided mentoring relationship using online software or email.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
In January 2002, President George W. Bush signed a bill expanding the Safe and Stable Families Program (Public Law 107-133)
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_mentoring#cite_note-5>
...which included authorization for a mentoring program for children of prisoners. According to a U.S. Senate Report, children of prisoners are six times more likely to be incarcerated at some point in their lives. Without effective intervention strategies, as many as 70% of these children will become involved with the criminal justice system.
Become A Mentor:
If you are interested in becoming a mentor in your area, here is a good resource to get you started:
http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/take_action/becomeamentor
