Knowing it's Important

Why is mentoring important? Well, for lots of reasons. We all need other people in our lives to help us learn new skills, develop a sense of belonging, build confidence, make it through the tough times, and celebrate the good times.

It’s sometimes hard to admit, but we need caring adults in our lives in order to succeed. Did you know that there are lots of studies that show teens who have adult mentors do better in school, stay out of trouble, make healthy choices, and have high self-esteem? In fact, the Education Commission of the United States listed mentoring as one of the five most important things for reversing high school dropout rates. So having a mentor is really, really important for all of us. That’s why we are talking about it.

The most important trait of a mentor is that they are someone you trust, or can build trust with. Sometimes we talk so much about “independence” and learning to make decisions on our own that we forget that everyone (regardless of age, gender, disability, or culture) needs and calls on the support of others. In other words, we all need support.

Another important reason to have or be a mentor is that you may not have a good role model. Maybe you don’t have anyone in your life right now that cares about you, sets a good example, is successful, and wants to share their ideas and knowledge with you. Well, it doesn’t have to stay that way. There are tons of adults out there right now who could be mentors to you. We all need positive role models in life. After all, we see plenty of bad role models and examples of what not to do. A mentor can help us to see the other side of things.

Need more reasons? Explore this section. If we haven’t convinced you yet, then you might as well see for yourself!