Every day, mentors in communities across our Nation provide crucial support and guidance to young people. Whether a day is spent helping with homework, playing catch, or just listening, these moments can have an enormous, lasting effect on a child’s life. During National Mentoring Month, we recognize those who give generously of themselves by mentoring young Americans.

As tutors, coaches, teachers, volunteers, and friends, mentors commit their time and energy to kids who may otherwise lack a positive, mature influence in their lives. Their impact fulfills critical local needs that often elude public services. Our government can build better schools with more qualified teachers, but a strong role model can motivate students to do their homework. Lawmakers can put more police officers on our streets and ensure our children have access to high-quality health care, but the advice and example of a trusted adult can keep kids out of harm’s way. Mentors are building a brighter future for our Nation by helping our children grow into productive, engaged, and responsible adults.

Many of us are fortunate to recall a role model from our own adolescent years who pushed us to succeed or pulled us back from making a poor decision. We carry their wisdom with us throughout our lives, knowing the unique and timeless gift of mentorship. During this month, I encourage Americans to give back by mentoring young people in their communities who may lack role models, and pass that precious gift on to the next generation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2010 as National Mentoring Month. I call upon public officials, business and community leaders, educators, and Americans across the country to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Clare Turner
Program Director
Starfish Mentoring Program
Headwaters
PO Box 114
Sperryville, VA 22740
home tel: 540.675.1935
Headwaters tel: 540.987.3322
http://www.headwatersfdn.org

The Starfish Mentoring Program envisions a growing community in which young people experience nurturing one-to-one relationships and community support, which in turn allows them to develop into their full potential capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our community.

As you may or may not know, January is National Mentoring Month.   In order to be a mentor you don’t need special skills – just a willingness to listen, offer encouragement and share what you’ve learned about life.  

Most successful people say they had mentors along the way who guided and encouraged them.  The Harvard Mentoring Project has been conducting videotaped interviews and collecting written essays in which prominent people from various fields talk about their mentors.  I hope you find it interesting!  http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/wmy/intro.html

Clare Turner, Starfish Director

We’ve listed a few common concerns you may have. We understand that committing to mentor a child comes with a lot of responsibility and may feel like brand new territory to you. You may worry that you won’t know how to do this.

Try thinking about your background, you may have already been a mentor in informal situations. Maybe you helped a niece or nephew with schoolwork or listened to a youngster who thought nobody cared. In each instance, you were acting as a mentor.

By joining a mentoring program, you are simply formalizing your commitment to help guide a young person. At the same time, you get the benefit of comprehensive training and ongoing support.

What if…  We don’t hit it off right away?

It’s not easy to trust a stranger.  It may take a while to build up trust. Don’t interpret caution as rejection. A young person may not show it — in fact, he or she may not even know it fully — but your help is definitely wanted.

What if…Something extremely serious comes up?

While most mentoring relationships develop and flourish without serious problems, things do happen. Mentors have an important role, but that role does not include medical or psychological treatment, or family counseling. There are support systems in place for real emergencies. Contact your mentoring program coordinator for information. The most a mentor is expected to do — and should do — is to help guide a young person to the appropriate source of professional help.

What if … We don’t have anything in common?

Many first-time mentors worry that differences in age, race, religion, education, or gender will be insurmountable barriers. Actually, most experienced mentors report that mentoring a young person from a different background broadened their own horizons and deepened their understanding of other people and cultures.

What if … for some reason I can’t mentor anymore?

This is a very serious concern. Mentoring is a deep commitment. There are times, however, when things happen over which you have no control — perhaps a job relocation or sickness — and you simply must withdraw from your mentoring relationship. If that happens, you need to talk with your program coordinator and discuss the best way to end the relationship.

Except for such unavoidable circumstances, it’s best to stay in a mentoring relationship. You could do far more harm than good if you were to enter a young person’s life, build up trust and then abandon the relationship. Be honest with yourself when committing to be a mentor. If you aren’t sure about in-depth mentoring, try one of the many shorter-term alternatives, such as tutoring or one-time projects.

What if … I do something wrong?

If you are there for your young friend no matter what; if you listen and really hear what’s being said; and if you do your best to counsel and not to judge, you will have done everything right. Some young people are more ready than others for a mentor. Some may test a mentor’s commitment. Try not to take such behavior personally. Just keep trying your best and keep doing the right things by following your mentoring program’s guidelines. Gauge your success by your actions, not your mentee’s.

Mentor.org 2009