The Long-Term Impact of Youth Mentorship: What the Research Shows

Every student should feel as though their presence is valuable. They should be told: You are part of this community. Unfortunately, this is a reality that remains untrue for far too many Black, Indigenous, and students of color — particularly those who are first-generation college students.

The consequences are clear: unrecognized potential, unshaped self-worth, and deferred aspirations.

At Scholar and a Dream, we are committed to changing this. However, we do not implement band-aid solutions, nor do we conduct superficial, one-off interventions. We focus on sustained, relationship-centric mentorship. Research corroborates what we know from first-hand experience: a kind, enduring mentor profoundly alters a young person’s future.

Mentorship Is Not Just Guidance; It Is Opportunity

Mentorship is one of the most effective, yet often overlooked, methods for promoting social justice in the educational sector. It helps to bring together gaps in knowledge and networks, as well as in confidence and emotional support. It is particularly important for BIPOC and first-generation students who often find themselves in educational environments that were designed for a different group of people.

Unfortunately, that support is not available to every young person. Almost one-third of young people do not have a mentor outside of their family, and the situation is worse for young people from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, according to MENTOR National.

For those lucky enough to have mentors, benefits include reasons such as the following:

• 74% claim their mentor was a significant factor in their success

• 60% of adults under the age of 40 still seek advice from their childhood mentors

• 58% of young people said their mentor aided their mental health during important periods of their life (Source: MENTOR National)

Numbers mean a lot. They mean lives, futures, and potential. They mean young people whose lives were positively impacted because someone cared enough to listen, guide, and believe in them.

What Our Students Face

Our students at Scholar and a Dream are exceptionally talented, and possess a great deal of ambition and resilience, and the pathway ahead of them is filled with challenges. Many students are the first in their families to attend college, are impacted by a lack of diversity and representation within their classrooms, and suffer from feelings of imposter syndrome.

When a mentor steps in, that student gains more than just the advice of a trusted and guiding collaborator. They gain a roadmap, a sounding board, a steady presence, and more often than not, a lifeline.

Being A Mentor

As a volunteer, you will be paired with one of our scholars and will be required to stay with them for one school year.

Some examples of what you will be expected to do include:

• Provide support and guidance for academic and personal challenges

• Share your personal experiences and the lessons you learned

• Be there to celebrate successes and help through challenges

  
  

You are not required to have all the answers. Your guidance and support is what matters the most.

"The college mentorship program at Scholar & A Dream paired me with an amazing mentor who is just as passionate about nursing as I am. They have provided ongoing motivation and support throughout my nursing program, and their help has greatly aided in my success." — Bonnie, Scholar

What You'll Gain

The support you provide will change your mentee’s life. You will also experience significant changes in your life, as mentorship impacts our volunteer mentors in the following ways:

• A renewed sense of purpose

• A better understanding of the challenges faced by students today

• Improvement of the skills of active listening, leadership, and cultural humility

• Mentoring relationships that continue well after the school year has ended.

And most importantly, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you made a real difference in someone’s life.

How to Get Started

It only takes a couple of steps:

1. Fill out an application using this link

2. Have a brief interview with us so we can get to know you and make a good match

3. Join one of our mentor orientation sessions

4. Get paired with your mentee and start building a relationship

   
   

You Don’t Have To Change The World, Just One Life.

Here at Scholar and a Dream, we know that one relationship has the power to change the course of a future. Just one mentor. Just one student. Just one steady presence.

If you’ve had a mentor that changed everything for you, or if you’ve always wanted one, this is your chance to be that person for someone else.