Your community, state, and nation gain significant benefits when you take the time to mentor a young person. Mentored teens are 46% less likely to use drugs, 59% get better grades, and 73% raise their goals. So they grow up to be good citizens and employees who strengthen our businesses, our community, and our society. 
 

What is a Mentor?

A mentor is an adult who, along with parents, provides young people 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.
 

Common Worries...

What if ...

... my help isn't wanted?

It's not easy to trust a stranger, especially if you're a young person who's had a lot of bad experiences with adults in the past. It may take a whole lot to build up trust. Don't interpret caution as a rejection. A young person may not show it -- in fact, he or she may not even know it fully -- but your help is definitely wanted.

... something really serious comes up?

While most mentoring relationships develop and flourish without serious problems, things do happen. Mentors have an important role, but that role does not include medical or psychological treatment, or family counseling. There are support systems in place for real emergencies. The most a mentor is expected to do -- and should do -- is to help guide a young person to the appropriate source of professional help.

... I'm too different to relate well?

Many first-time volunteers worry that differences in age, race, religion, education, or gender will be insurmountable barriers. Actually, most experienced mentors report that mentoring a young person from a different background broadened their own horizons and deepened their understanding of other people and cultures.

... for some reason I can't mentor anymore?

This is a concern. Mentoring is a commitment. It will do far more harm than good to enter a young person's life, build up trust, and then abandon the relationship. Be as honest as possible with yourself when committing to be a mentor -- for everyone's sake. 

... I do something wrong?

If you listen and really hear what's being said; and if you do your best to counsel and not to judge, you will have done everything right. Some young people are readier than others for a mentor. Some may test a mentor's commitment. Try not to take such behavior personally. Just keep trying your best and keep doing the right things.