The Power of a Mentor

The Power of a Mentor

There’s something that happens when you give your time to someone else, teaching them about intangible parts of life that only someone who has experienced different parts of life, different places and different points of view can give. The uniqueness of each of our life experiences can be so valuable to someone who hasn’t experienced much of anything beyond neglect, court systems, foster home placement after foster home placement.

And it’s not just foster youth.

Did you know that over 35% of youth have never had a mentor? Did you know that something like 95% of those youth want a mentor, someone who will spend time with them outside of a structured relationship (e.g. teacher, pastor, social worker, etc.)?

Of surveyed kids who have had a mentor, nearly 95% of them have considerably higher goals in life, from secondary education and vocational training to greater career aspirations. Young adults who are more successful have almost all, in some way or another, had a mentor who gave them the confidence and the internal drive to pursue more in life.

For me, giving fills this idea that I’m able to make a profound difference in someone’s life. Selfishly, I continue to give because it not only makes me feel better every time I do, but it makes me feel that I can walk a little taller no matter where I go.

I know that I make a difference in my community and I want to share with you that you absolutely can make a difference in someone’s life too when you become a mentor.

I’ve seen the kids that I have spent time with as a mentor morph into entirely new versions of themselves simply because someone is spending time with them, not as a court appointed advocate, or social worker or instructor, but as a mentor and a friend.

Some days we just climb a rock wall, but the confidence that is built from making it up that route, the trust that is gained by your mentor at the bottom belaying your line (rope lingo for keeping your line safe and secure (or something like that)). The empowerment from watching some of those kids taking on the belay role for other kids and young adults during the session is moving because already you see that this young person wants to give to others, keep them safe.

A mentor can provide tremendously valuable guidance on a young person’s path to productive adulthood. Imagine being able to give a young person a ticket to the most valuable show in town and it wouldn’t cost you anything more than a few hours of your time, once a month.

The key to this relationship is consistency, a consistent mentor is reliable and can break down barriers and inspire a young person to give of themselves too.

The power of a mentor can springboard a young person on a trajectory that leads to a vocational or college education, that leads to a professional career that can create opportunities for many others in our communities.

By mentoring someone you can create a ripple effect that has far reaching pulses beyond your imagination.

Would you consider becoming a mentor and change someone’s life forever?

Read more about the Urban Surf 4 Kids Hanai mentorship program here.

Join a team or make a one on one connection with local outings and start to make a difference in someone else’s life, and even your own.

Where do you live? Orange County? North County? East County?

We have a handful of volunteers that live in your area and would like to start a group. Together you can spread our reach.