As a mentor with Clinton County 4-H Youth Mentoring, you can help facilitate success in a young person’s life! You may be asking yourself, “How can I do that?”
Very simply, by:
· Taking the time to be a friend
· Listening and showing genuine interest in what they are saying
· Being a positive role model
· Helping them to decide and evaluate their choices
· Supporting and letting them know you are proud of them
· By acting as a connector to community resources
These are all actions that take place during a year long mentoring relationship. You could be the champion a young person needs to lead a productive and meaningful life.
You can look back and see the positive influence you had on a young person, by just taking a few hours a month to mentor a youth!
The American Journal of Public Health has found that young people who participate in mentoring relationships often experience long-term benefits and face better outcomes in the following areas:
· Educational attainment and the desire to complete high school and attend college
· Future employment and community engagement
· Good mental health that leads to higher self-esteem and life satisfaction
· Reduced presence of problem behavior and criminal offending
Take some time to learn how you can get involved in Clinton County 4-H Youth Mentoring Programs by contacting Christine Sisung at 989.224.5239 or Sisungch@anr.msu.edu.