Subtopic Hub
Youth Mentorship
TL;DR
A mentor can help a young person feel seen, supported, and more confident about the future. It just takes one adult who keeps showing up can make a lasting difference in a young persons life.
Quick Answers
Does mentoring actually help young people?
Yes. Young people with a mentor are more likely to enroll in college and report better academic attitudes; among at-risk youth, 76% with a mentor aspire to finish college, versus 50% without one (MENTOR, The Mentoring Effect).
How many kids grow up without a mentor?
A 2023 national study led by MENTOR found the share of young adults who had a mentor growing up slipped to 60%, down from 66% a decade earlier. Millions still come of age without one.
What makes mentorship work?
Consistency and genuine care. A mentor who shows up over time, listens, and tells a young person plainly that they matter does more than any single program feature.
Editor's Note
Young people need adults who listen, keep their word, and remind them that their lives and choices matter. That can happen through a teacher, coach, neighbor, relative. A mentor can help a young person build confidence, make better decisions, and see possibilities they may not have seen alone. They not only help set young people for success but also lay the groundwork for future mentors and a better society. This section looks at the people creating those relationships and the difference their time and attention can make. As the saying goes “It takes a village”.
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