Teenage years and time spent in high school are some of the most pivotal and challenging in a young person’s life. The right mentorship can make all the difference—helping young people navigate school, personal growth, and future goals.
The CCF youth mentoring program works with students in grades 9-12 in support of their future selves and helps them to best define the trajectory of their future, and for some of our students, with a mentor in their corner.
Our Youth Mentorship Program connects experienced mentors with young individuals to offer guidance, support, and life lessons in 1:1 matching, setting up communication and in-person meeting plans, through roundtable events and in-person meetings through town hall style discussion sessions.
Our mentors are not just guides, but also active listeners. They help set goals, provide feedback, and share their own experiences. They are role models who show how to overcome obstacles and embrace challenges.
The student mentees are encouraged and supported to be open-minded and proactive in their growth. They engage in regular meetings with their mentors, set personal goals, and take steps to implement what they learn in their daily lives.
Here’s what our mentors and mentees have to say about the program:
As a student mentee: How has the program has positively impacted you?
“…Lately with my mentor we’ve just been getting familiar with each other and better improving our relationship. I’ve also been able to relieve some of my own stress about schoolwork with my mentor through discussing it and finding solutions to it. I’m so thankful for this opportunity to have a mentor and I am looking forward to hanging out with my Mentor!” ~Student in Phoenixville High School, 11th grade
“We’ve recently been exploring potential opportunities for me to pursue over the summer. She also guided me in identifying the classes I need to meet the foreign language requirements for my dream school and suggested extracurricular activities I could get involved in. She’s incredibly supportive, and we share many common interests, including a fascination with the stars and a mutual dislike of light pollution.”
~Student in Coatesville High School, 10th grade
As a CCF mentor: How do define the nature of your role as a mentor?
By sharing from the mentor perspective on how to develop a path and a passion as a younger person.
By helping the younger person de-mystify some of their life processes and approach their goals with support and clarity
By helping to support the early networking and connecting process for young people.
By helping to support the younger person in navigating the resources around them, to learn to self-advocate, to ask for support and help, to take advantage of opportunities and to know where those opportunities may come from.
In a world where teens face more pressures than ever before, mentorship provides a beacon of hope, support, and encouragement. Together, mentors and mentees build a future that’s brighter and more resilient.
If you know someone who could benefit from mentorship, share this post with them! Let’s spread the word and create even more meaningful connections for teens in our community.
This article is from Chester County Futures’ Future Focused official blog. CCF supports and connects students with opportunities, resources and mentorship to empower success in school and post-secondary life.