January marks National Mentoring Month. It’s a month not only to celebrate the mentors in our lives and communities, but also reflect on the importance of mentoring. Throughout our lives, we have all had people that impacted our lives for the better. They encouraged us to keep moving forward despite the obstacles in our paths. And if we fell, they sat with us until we were ready to stand back up again.
Some youth don’t have that person in their life. Which is why mentoring programs make such a difference. They provide our youth with positive role models, cheerleaders, and life coaches.
According to National Mentor Partnership:
In Real Life, youth who have the opportunity to meet regularly with mentors are:
• 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs.
• 27% less likely to start drinking.
• 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school.
• 37% less likely to skip a class.In Real Life, young adults who were mentored as kids are:
• 55% more likely to be enrolled in college.
• 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
• 2Xs as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
• 90% of young people who had a mentor are interested in becoming mentors
themselves.
During the next few weeks reflect on the mentors that shaped you and helped you become who you are today. What are you doing now to #MentorIRL?
