Want to Start Volunteering? Consider Mentoring a Teen.

Volunteering is an important part of giving back to your community and making the world a better place. One great way to volunteer your time is by mentoring local teens in your area. Read on to learn why you should consider being a mentor.

Directly Involved in Your Community

One benefit that comes with mentoring a teenager is that you’re able to be directly involved in your community. This kind of direct involvement isn’t possible in very many other ways. However, mentoring makes you an integral part of your community. When you mentor, you take a local teenager under your wing and do everything you can personally to help them succeed. Since a community is all about the people within it, there is no better way to get involved. Mentoring looks different depending on what your mentee may need. If they’re struggling with school, you may dedicate your time and efforts to helping them through their homework. If they’re having issues with addiction, you can help them find the guidance they need to get through. Whatever you do, you’ll be directly helping a member of your community.

Give Kids More Opportunities

Another benefit of mentoring local teens is that you can help them have more opportunities later in life. People that grow up in low-income communities may have a more difficult time graduating high school, going to college, and finding a stable career. Without help, they may not be able to get as far in life as they’d like to. When you mentor them, you can give them access to more opportunities than they would have otherwise. If you went to college, you can reach out to your alma mater about scholarships, or look into a local university that has these programs. When it comes to high school, youth that are involved in mentoring programs are significantly more likely to graduate. By spending your time mentoring these teenagers, you can help their future become brighter, and increase their chances for success.

Benefits You as Well

If you choose to spend your time mentoring a teenager, they are not the only ones who will reap the rewards. You can also find a lot of benefits from mentoring these young people. When you mentor another person, you have the unique opportunity to gain a new perspective on life. This helps you step back, and realize the good that exists all around you. When you spend your time caring for someone else, it has been shown to boost your confidence, give you new ways to handle your own issues, and help you step out of your comfort zone for a while. All of these can benefit you immensely.

If you’re interested in volunteering and becoming more involved in your community, mentoring local teenagers can be a great place to start. These individuals are facing so much difficulty, and your help can make all the difference in their lives. Find a local organization to allow you to make a difference in your community.

New Pathways For Youth is an organization that helps teenagers in low-income areas find success through mentorship. When you volunteer with them, you can directly improve the livelihood of individuals in your community. Click here to learn more, and begin your mentor journey today!