The Importance of Mentoring
What is a mentor? One dictionary defines a mentor as “an experienced and trusted adviser,” (The New Oxford American Dictionary, Third Edition, Oxford University Press). Strictly speaking, the role of advisor does encompass one facet of a mentor, such as when one teaches another about various aspects of a vocation. This type of mentoring can be invaluable to someone who is trying to acquire a skill or break into a particular field.
However, mentoring can be much more than that. According to the National Mentoring Partnership, “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 day-to-day challenges” (“The Value of Mentoring,” Mentoring.org).
Caring takes mentoring beyond the role of “advisor” and elevates it to a relationship in which the mentor becomes personally invested in the long-term wellbeing of the mentee. Mentors demonstrate over time—perhaps even many years—that their relationships with the ones being mentored really do matter.
The fact is we all need the help of others as we grow to adulthood. Everything we know comes from others, and those we admire and respect the most shape much of our worldview. Especially during our formative years, a strong mentor can make a substantial difference in the direction of our lives. For young people from fractured families, a caring mentor can be a matter of life and death.