At its most basic level, mentoring helps because it guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. A child is not alone in dealing with their day-to-day worries.

Think back. Did you know how to study for a test or make plans for college? Do you remember wanting your first car or looking for a part-time job? Simple things that seem easy or straightforward to you now may appear to be a complete mystery to a young person.

Mentors provide their mentees with an experienced friend who is always ready to help in any number of different situations.

Support for education

• Mentors help keep students in school.
• Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters).
• Mentors help with homework and can improve academic skills.

Support with day-to-day living

• Mentors help improve a young person’s self-esteem.
• Mentors provide support for students trying new behaviors.
• Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters).
• About 40% of teenager’s waking hours are spent without companionship or supervision. Mentors provide teens with a valuable place to spend free time.
• Mentors teach young people how to relate well to all kinds of people and help young people strengthen their communication skills.

Support in the workplace

• Mentors help young people set career goals and start taking steps to realize them.
• Mentors can use their personal contacts to help young people meet industry professionals, find internships and locate job possibilities.
• Mentors introduce young people to professional resources and organizations they may not know about.
• Mentors can help their mentees learn how to seek and keep jobs.

The number of ways mentoring can help a youth are as varied as the participants involved in each program. While the lists and statistics can be impressive, take a look at two very different personal accounts of two very different mentoring success stories.