Become a Mentor
YOU DON’T NEED SPECIAL SKILLS TO BECOME A MENTOR
YOU DON’T NEED SPECIAL SKILLS TO BECOME A MENTOR, YOU JUST NEED TO BE:
Caring and consistent
Willing to share time, ideas and new experiences
Be able to embrace differences
Able to set and hold boundaries
What To Expect
The mentor and mentee will meet together two to four times a month and spend quality time with one another. The minimum volunteer commitment is one year. It is up to the matches to decide where they will meet and what they will do, but we encourage them to engage in meaningful one-to-one activities. Mentors will receive on-going support from our staff to help you along the way.
The Process of Becoming a Mentor
Background and reference check
An in-person interview assessing whether the volunteer is suitable to work with children or not
Training and orientation that gives mentors clear ground rules to abide by
Thoughtful matching
The program coordinator will introduce the mentor to the mentee and the mentee's familiy
Ongoing support and training
Continued monioring of the matches
Before becoming a mentor here are a few things to understand about the role of mentoring.
Most of us have had a teacher, supervisor or coach who has been a mentor to us and made a positive difference in our lives. Those people wore many hats, acting as role models, cheerleaders, friends, advocates, delegators, and policy enforcers. Mentors assume these different roles throughout the course of the relationship and share these qualities:
A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
Respect for young people
Respect for young people
Active listening skills
Active listening skills
Empathy
Empathy
Ability to see solutions and opportunities
Ability to see solutions and opportunities
Flexibility
Flexibility
Common Concerns
When you join a mentoring program — and before you are matched with a young person — you will receive training aimed at helping you understand and prepare for your role and responsibilities. Throughout your mentoring relationship, you’ll receive ongoing training and support. That training and support should address the majority of your concerns. If it doesn’t, don’t hesitate to ask questions!
Below are a few common concerns you may have. We understand that committing to mentor a youth comes with a lot of responsibility and may feel like brand new territory. You may worry that you won’t know how to do this. Try thinking about your background; you may have already been a mentor in informal situations. Maybe you helped a niece or nephew with schoolwork or listened to a youngster who thought nobody cared. In each instance, you were acting as a mentor. By joining a mentoring program, you are simply formalizing your commitment to help guide a young person. At the same time, you get the benefit of comprehensive training and ongoing support.
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 while to build trust. Don’t interpret caution as 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.
While most mentoring relationships develop and flourish without serious problems, things do happen. Mentors have an important role, but that role does not include family counseling or medical or psychological treatment. There are support systems in place for real emergencies. Contact your mentoring program coordinator for information. 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.
Many first-time mentors 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.
This is a very serious concern. Mentoring is a deep commitment. There are times, however, when uncontrollable things happen — perhaps a job relocation or sickness — and you simply must withdraw from your mentoring relationship. If that happens, you need to talk with your program coordinator and discuss the best way to end the relationship. Except for such unavoidable circumstances, it’s best to stay in a mentoring relationship. You could do far more harm than good if you enter a young person’s life, build trust and then abandon the relationship. Be honest with yourself when committing to be a mentor. If you aren’t sure about in-depth mentoring, try one of the many shorter-term alternatives, such as tutoring or one-time projects.
If you are there for your young friend no matter what; 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 more ready than others for a mentor. Some may test a mentor’s commitment. Try not to take such behavior personally. Just keep doing your best and following your mentoring program’s guidelines. Gauge your success by your actions, not your mentee’s.
