Many youth mentors report having higher self-esteem as a result of a feeling of accomplishment that they were able to make a difference in a child's life. Along these same lines many mentors feel accomplished because they spent their free time wisely by making a connection with an at risk youth.
When working with kids, mentors use, develop, and refine several professional skills that they can then translate into their work lives. Most significantly increased patience and supervisory skills. Whether it is continued work with kids, an office job or something else; patience and supervisory skills will always be well utilized. Volunteer work is also always something that employers look for. Being able to put mentor work on a resume can help to make someone standout in a sea of potential employee candidates.
Becoming a youth mentor can provide great experience and education for those who are interested in the fields of education, child/family development, and social work. Being a mentor can give a good look at what it is like in the various developmental stages of youth. Each of the stages is very different and requires a different approach. These are the sorts of skills learned though mentoring that can provide real life experiences for future fields of work.
Lastly, mentoring opens the door for other volunteer experiences and allows the mentor to develop volunteer networks and contacts.
While the impact made on the child through mentoring programs is the most significant and crucial, mentors themselves have many great takeaways from the experience as well. Mentoring without a doubt can change and improve the life of the mentor as well.
Sources
"Benefits for Young People." youth.gov. Accessed 21 Nov. 2016.
Bonner, Sadric. "Youth Mentoring Has Lifelong Benefits - for the Mentor Too." Reclaiming Futures. 6 Dec. 2010. Accessed 21 Nov. 2016.
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