What is a Mentor?
Georgia Youth ChalleNGe Mentor Program Concept
The Mentoring Phase of the Georgia Youth ChalleNGe Academy is community-based and supervised by the Postresidential Dept. Transition is critical to the success of the Cadets. Although they have new and useful skills during the residential phase, Cadets will have difficulty in maintaining their new lifestyle without appropriate support systems. This is where the help of the mentor is needed, not only to reinforce the new skills of the Cadets, but also to serve as a catalyst to personel achievement. Following this rationale, the primary goal of the Mentoring Phase is to assess and match each Cadet with an unrelated adult in the community in an effort to develop a sustained relationship. This adult serves as a companion, supporter, teacher, ChalleNGer and role model to the Cadet, while engaging in activities of mutual interest.
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring involves a one-on-one relationship between a youth and an adult, over a prolonged period of time, providing consistent support and guidance. This responsibility is increasingly important, especially when the youth goes through a difficult and challenging situation or period in life. The goal of the mentor is to aid the Cadet in attaining, as well as maintaining, the skills and confidence needed to become a responsible adult. This will culminate in the youth`s desire and ability to succeed in education and employment oppurtunities. Mentoring is also community-building on the part of the mentor. You are entrusted with molding a young person into a contributing and productive member of society. It is the process of sharing your personal knowledge, experience and skills with a less experienced youth. It is easy to see how being a mentor requires believing in, and caring about, young people.
What is a Mentor?
Mentor, accoding to the American Heritage Dictionary, means " a wise and trusted counselor or teacher" and has Greek root meaning of "steadfast and enduring." The Greek poet Homer first coined the word "mentor" in his epic poem, The Odyssey. A great warrior, Odysseus, knowing he was to be away from his home for many years on a journey, chose a man named Mentor to be the guardian and tutor of his son. The Georgia Youth ChalleNGe Mentor is to inspire the Cadet to think, act and develop his/her potential through praise, motivation, correction and listening. The mentor encourages the Cadet to utilize his/her personal strengths, to accept ChalleNGes and pursue dreams.
Who Can be a Mentor?
- Must be the same gender as the potential cadet.
- Must be at least 23 years old.
- May NOT be of any relationship to the applicant (including cousins) and must not live in the same household, or have had a close personal relationship (engaged, lived together for years etc) with one of the potential cadet's parents. AGAIN NO RELATIVES!! THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
