All young adults need someone who is going to be a rock in their life. Someone who coaches and guides them into their passions without steering them. Someone who is there to listen with deep intent to support them. Someone who—no matter where a young adult is in life—is there to encourage them to achieve greater things and help them along the way to accomplishing their goals. Mentor is one way to describe a person like this. A better way is champion, coach, and friend.
“If I didn’t have a mentor, I would not be where I am today. I would not be in college without her support. She helped me with the college application process, encouraged me, and gave me the confidence to apply to colleges I wouldn’t have considered. Spark also helped me prepare for college through campus tours, financial aid workshops, and career exploration events. The college tours showed me what college life would be like. ”
–Iris Reyes, Spark Student
Many of the challenges our students encounter in attaining economic mobility stem from obstacles that include but are not limited to income inequality, attending under resourced schools, living in under resourced neighborhoods, and not having access to generational wealth. Schools are trying to fill this gap—but in a society where success is measured by test scores, GPA, or graduation, many young people still lack the support they need to compete by these measures. Most importantly, they lack the support and access to resources that they need to pursue the pathways that will provide economic security for themselves and their families. Mentoring is an opportunity to give back in a way that elevates the life of a young adult so that they can achieve better outcomes.
Young adults with a mentor are:
- 55% more likely to enroll in college
- 78% more likely to volunteer regularly
- 130% more likely to hold leadership positions*
“It has been my honor to share my experiences with my Spark mentee, Iris. We were matched perfectly. We are both introverts, so we understand each other. Iris is also emotionally mature. I have witnessed them develop more confidence in their academics and themselves. I’ve been grateful to know someone 12 years younger than me as I’ve had the opportunity to hear a different perspective on things such as the political climate of our country. It gave me more hope than my own peer group.”
– Jessica, Spark Mentor
Sources: *The National Mentoring Partnership