There is always that older student you remember looking up to. What if you were that person?

There is always that older student you remember looking up to. He or she was the varsity basketball player, or involved in student body, or simply a friendly face in the hallway. But what if you were that person? Being a mentor to peers and younger individuals not only has a great impact on them, but a lasting one on you too. Mentoring can help you develop life skills and gain satisfaction from knowing you've helped someone succeed.

Mentoring is about trusting relationships that bring young people together with caring individuals (typically the mentor is older than the mentee) who offer guidance, support, and serve as role models. Mentors encourage character development and help bring out the strengths mentees already possess.

For many people, having someone to talk to and spend time with in a positive friendship can mean the difference between dropping out of school and graduating. Being mentored can provide important support that many people need to make it through a period of life when peer pressure and the desire to fit in are strong influences. Mentoring plays an influential role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence, while significantly enhancing a person's prospects for leading a healthy and productive life.

• Giving them social awareness about other peoples' situations.
• Encouraging their creative thinking to help others solve problems.
• Teaching them to be open and flexible in relationships with others.
• Stretching them out of their comfort zone.
• Showing them that they have the ability to impact the world around them.

Mentoring allows you to strengthen coaching and leadership skills by working with peers and younger individuals. For example, listening is one of the most important skills to learn, and what better way to practice that skill than by listening to your mentee? Learning to keep your ears open can help you form better relationships, pay attention as a student, and communicate better in the workplace.

• Improving their attitudes towards their parents, peers, and teachers.
• Encouraging them to stay educationally motivated.
• Providing a positive way for them to spend free time.
• Helping them face daily challenges.
• Offering guidance about career paths and providing much-needed economic knowledge.

Getting involved as a mentor is easy. Decide what kind of mentoring opportunity is best suited for you, whether it's helping a fellow athlete sharpen his or her skills, or simply hanging out after school. Talk to teachers and community members to find local mentoring programs to join, or check out mentoring.org and nationalmentoringmonth.org. 

Sources: mentoring.org; ncjrs.gov; ache.org; nationalmentoringmonth.org