As many as 1 in 3 children, they will grow up without any type of mentor in their life. Mentors help to guarantee that young people will have someone there to care for them and allow them to know they are there and not alone. Having a mentor lets the younger generation know that they matter. Providing them with someone to help them through challenges in life can make all the difference. The relationship that a mentor has with a child brings about many positive influences and effects on them. These children typically perform better in their academic and professional environments.
When you mentor a child, the positive effects it can have on the child’s education are significant. Students who had a mentor in their life were found to be 52% less likely to skip school than their fellow peers, and 37% less likely to skip a class a study found. A mentor also helps the child maintain a much more positive attitude regarding furthering their education. The Mentoring Effect found that young adults who faced an opportunity gap but had a mentor involved in their life were 55% more likely to continue in their education.
Beyond education, mentors have an impact on the child’s everyday life as well. Mentors have the opportunity to offer up advice and share their wealth of knowledge and experiences with these children. Youth that have the chance to meet with a mentor regularly are 46% less likely to start the use of illegal drugs and substances, as well as 27% less likely to start drinking. Around 81% of youth that have a mentor in their life but face an opportunity gap are also more likely to be involved in extracurricular sports and activities.
Having a mentor provides a more positive social attitude and helps these children to develop healthy relationships. They are better able to communicate with their parents and put more trust into them when they have worked with a mentor as well. Mentors have the opportunity to work with children to develop lifelong goals that they can achieve.
The benefits mentoring can bring to a young person are well worth the time investment. The satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a difference in the life of another human being can not be underestimated. If you’re looking for a way to affect change, mentoring is a prime opportunity to give back and have an impact.