Mentoring programs in schools are becoming more common. They are usually paired with another initiative such as school-based career exploration or job clubs. Mentoring programs help guide students in making career choices and finding their place in the workforce. Mentoring not only benefits the mentoree but also the mentor by providing insight into the challenges of being an adult advisor to students. Mentoring programs can also help adults who are looking for work get connected with organizations that hire people with their skillset. Here are some challenges you might expect when mentoring in schools:
The first challenge of mentoring in schools is finding the right mentors for your program. This is especially true if you're working with students who are not in the same school as the mentors. You'll want to make sure that mentor and mentoree have the same cultural norms and expectations in terms of communication and time management. If you're pairing mentors with mentors, make sure they have similar areas of expertise. It makes sense to pair mentors who also work with students in the same grade level.
Another challenge of mentoring in schools is finding time to mentor. This is a common challenge for all mentors, but it's especially true for those who are mentoring in schools. Many mentors find they have so much to do that they have to choose which commitments to drop. You may want to consider setting aside time for mentoring in schools on the same days as you have other commitments. For example, if you're mentoring in schools on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, you may want to consider mentoring on those days when you have fewer other commitments.
Another challenge of mentoring in schools is matching mentors and mentorees. You may want to consider basing the match on interests and goals. You may also want to consider pairing mentors and mentorees based on their skillsets. For example, you may want to pair a student who is working toward a computer science degree with a computer programmer. This can help the mentoree identify areas where they can improve their skillset and help them connect with people who can help them.
Another challenge of mentoring in schools is getting the mentors engaged and excited about the program. You may want to consider hosting a kick-off event to introduce the mentors to one another and to the students they will be mentoring. You may also want to consider hosting a mentorship event where you invite the students to meet the mentors. This can give the mentors an opportunity to meet the students they will be mentoring while giving the students an opportunity to meet the mentors.
Another challenge of mentoring in schools is finding the right students to mentor. This can be especially true if you're pairing mentors with students who are not in the same grade level. You may want to consider pairing mentors with students who are in the same grade level. This can help the mentors connect with the students and help the students connect with the mentors.
Another challenge of mentoring in schools is finding ways to make the program sustainable. You may want to consider hosting a mentorship event at the end of the school year. You may also want to consider hosting a mentorship event at the end of the school year and asking the mentors to host a mentorship event in their community. This can help you connect with more people who can become mentors for the next school year.
Mentoring in schools is becoming more common. It can help guide students in making career choices and find their place in the workforce. Mentoring programs help guide students in making career choices and finding their place in the workforce. Mentoring not only benefits the mentoree but also the mentor by providing insight into the challenges of being an adult advisor to students. Mentoring programs can also help adults who are looking for work get connected with organizations that hire people with their skillset. The challenges of mentoring in schools include finding the right mentors for your program, finding time to mentor, getting the mentors engaged and excited about the program, finding the right students to mentor, and finding ways to make mentoring sustainable.