Why Mentoring is Important

Why Mentoring Is Important

Have you ever wished for an impartial, caring, or thoughtful individual to talk with, unload problems to or simply share your feelings about something important or not?  If you answered yes to any of the circumstances, then you may have benefited from having a mentor. A mentor monitors a person’s behavior or provides guidance and counsel to the individual.   

Perhaps more than ever before, children, adolescents, and young adults are bombarded with information that is difficult to understand and discern.  Young people may not possess the maturity to decipher angry, hostile or even violent content.  Mentors provide invaluable resources that can assist young people in finding their way in a tumultuous world.  Finding a caring adult at a young age can help minimize and even prevent detrimental associations and actions.  Children and teens are crying out for adults to talk with, engage them, and show them the way.  I challenge adults to make time and room in their lives to help the next generation through mentoring.  Effective mentors can serve as tutors, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, or a positive role model.  A caring mentor has the potential to show children how to be a kind, compassionate person.  Mentors can leave a lasting impression and a legacy of caring.

Mentors may also assist their mentee with professional advice or act as a sounding board for questions.  The term mentor is a frequently used buzzword, which describes an experienced individual who interacts with a younger or less experienced mentee, student, or child.  Having a caring unbiased person to talk to gives the young mentee a way to release tension and stress.    Internalizing problems is not a positive or helpful situation for a child or adult to experience.  Creating a positive outlet for discussing issues is a reason why mentoring is important.  An explanation of why mentoring is important and its overall value can be found on the following link http://www.mentoring.org/about_mentor/value_of_mentoring.  Parents spend a great deal of time away from the children with increasingly longer commutes and longer workdays. Mentors help fill the void by providing the listening ear and concern of an adult.  Mentoring is important when serious or permanent circumstances exist in the child’s life such as a parent’s death, incarceration, or physical or emotional detachment. Making a connections with a shy or lonely child is also a reason why mentoring is important and helpful.  Children of all ages and grades can benefit from a mentor’s advice and their positive reinforcement. There are many reasons why mentoring is important in supporting students and families in today’s society.   

 School administrators or guidance counselors coordinate and implement mentoring programs, which provide positive adult role models for students who are having trouble in school.  If your child’s school does not have a formal mentoring program, you might suggest this free information for use as a guide to help get a mentoring program started:   http://www.mentoring.org/downloads/mentoring_415.pdf .  Mentors serve as academic tutors, Lunch Buddy programs participants or interact with students during formal after school programs such as Boys and Girls Club or Big Brothers and Big Sister of America or other organizations.   Check with the school if you feel your child might benefit from a mentor/mentee relationship. If you would like to learn more about the organizations  listed above check out the websites to learn if these groups exist in your community http://www.bgcyc.org/ and  http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962335/k.BE16/Home.htm. The links provide a rational and understanding as to why mentoring is important for children to experience.

Lunchtime meetings during the school day provide a mentor time to chat with the student about their progress in school or other problems that might be affecting him.  Mentoring is important because concerned adults are needed to play a committed role in the life of a student who is struggling with personal or academic problems. Students feel special when an adult takes time out of their day to check on them at school.  Many adults who have acted as mentors say there is a surprising reason why mentoring is important to them.  Mentoring provides the mentor with a sense of accomplishment and pride.  In a complicated world there are many reasons why mentoring is important and a valuable activity for children and our community.

Mentors are needed to mitigate bullying and other serious problems facing today's youth.  Caring adults can soothe the heart and mind of a  troubled teen.   Mentoring is an important strategy that can help change the life of one child at a time.  Creating connected, caring youths even has the potential to solve many of the world's problems and conflicts.  Mentoring is an important strategy makes a difference for mentors and the lives they touch.  Imagine how different the life of an angry, disconnected teenager might be enhanced by the caring communication and input provided by a mentor.  Look around your churches,  schools and communities to identify a child or young person in need of a committed and caring mentor.  Becoming a mentor is an extremely important role.  Time spent as a mentor might evolve into a life-changing gift that makes a difference for humanity.