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Let’s Extend National Mentoring Month This Year
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | February 2, 2009
I don’t know how I missed it, but National Mentoring Month (January) has come and gone. For those like me, who may have been so distracted by other events, (small, unimportant things, such as, the INAUGURATION, the beginning of a new semester of Making Connections, community service projects for Martin Luther King Day) I propose that for this year, we expand National Mentoring Month, and the positive impact it can have on one child or an entire community, into February.
Expand Your Universe - Mentor a Child
The website Mentor.org http://www.mentoring.org/ describes National Mentoring Month as “a month-long outreach campaign (that) focuses national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us—individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors and assure brighter futures for our young people.”
It reminds us that all it takes to do something that can change your life as much as the life of a child is the “sincere desire to be involved with a young person,” respect for young people, a willingness to listen and empathize, the creativity to open doors to solutions and opportunities, and the flexibility to be open to change, challenge and possibilities. And everybody benefits.
The website lists the following ways that mentoring can help:
- Improving young people’s attitudes towards their parents, peers and teachers;
- Encouraging students to stay motivated and focused on their education;
- Providing a positive way for young people to spend free time;
- Helping young people face daily challenges; and
- Offering young people opportunities to consider new career paths and get much-needed economic skills and knowledge.
Can you add to this list? Please comment below to share your stories about the kids you mentor, and the people who mentored you.
Topics: Mentor Stories |