Mentors are kind, concerned adults—young and old and from all walks of life—who offer youth support, guidance, and encouragement. Mentors provide the sustained presence of a positive, caring adult role model.

A mentor seeks to help a youth navigate through the everyday challenges of school, society, and the community by drawing upon his or her greater knowledge and experience, and genuine concern for the youth.

A good mentor:

1. Makes a connection that means to gain the trust of the youth and foster mutual respect. The essential factor involved in making the connection is that the mentor likes and respects youth and is willing and able to make a sustained, intensive personal commitment.
2. Uses that connection to let the youth know by word and deed that they are worth the mentor’s time and effort because that youth is a valuable human being. And that the mentor can offer the youth—through knowledge and experience or by example—ways to expand his or her and to increase the likelihood that he or she will achieve success.