We've all been mentors to others
from time to time, even when we
weren't performing as such in a
formal way, or scarcely realized
it ourselves.
Most assuredly, we've all benefitted from mentors who turned us in a new direction, opened our minds or gently influenced us to become more capable and certain of ourselves. Some mentors are invisible, such as authors or musicians whose work quite simply changes our lives.
In recent years, though, the value of mentoring has taken on a more structured role in society. Through schools and social programs aimed at helping at-risk children, mentors set to work offering support in specific areas of a child's life — and sometimes simply by listening and commiserating.
While January is observed as National Mentoring Month by Volunteer USA, there is certainly no starting and stopping point for mentoring.
State Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, a long-time teacher and House member representing portions of Leon and other North Florida counties, issued a proclamation calling on all Floridians to help children "grow and learn more than they ever could on their own."
Though its benefits are intuitive, mentoring now has been the subject of enough research to confirm that young people suffer and slip behind in countless ways when they don't have a caring adult to provide them with encouragement and support.
As Steve Uhlfelder, chair of the Florida Mentoring Partnership and longtime mentor, emphasizes, "children are this state's most important asset and taking care of them should be a priority for each and every one of us."
Countless organizations depend upon mentors and more and more businesses support their employees in taking an hour a week to do this important work. It is given a boost through National Mentoring Month, but remains a constant need for children, and an enriching opportunity for adults.
Most assuredly, we've all benefitted from mentors who turned us in a new direction, opened our minds or gently influenced us to become more capable and certain of ourselves. Some mentors are invisible, such as authors or musicians whose work quite simply changes our lives.
In recent years, though, the value of mentoring has taken on a more structured role in society. Through schools and social programs aimed at helping at-risk children, mentors set to work offering support in specific areas of a child's life — and sometimes simply by listening and commiserating.
While January is observed as National Mentoring Month by Volunteer USA, there is certainly no starting and stopping point for mentoring.
State Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, a long-time teacher and House member representing portions of Leon and other North Florida counties, issued a proclamation calling on all Floridians to help children "grow and learn more than they ever could on their own."
Though its benefits are intuitive, mentoring now has been the subject of enough research to confirm that young people suffer and slip behind in countless ways when they don't have a caring adult to provide them with encouragement and support.
As Steve Uhlfelder, chair of the Florida Mentoring Partnership and longtime mentor, emphasizes, "children are this state's most important asset and taking care of them should be a priority for each and every one of us."
Countless organizations depend upon mentors and more and more businesses support their employees in taking an hour a week to do this important work. It is given a boost through National Mentoring Month, but remains a constant need for children, and an enriching opportunity for adults.
