Last week, we talked about the importance of being intentional with our encouragement. Here’s another way that we can offer verbal affirmation to the students we mentor.
We can acknowledge their feelings/circumstances and speak hope into them. As mentors, our tendency may be to downplay a student’s feelings or circumstances or try to fix them. Rather than doing either of those things, we can support them through those feelings/circumstances with words of hope. For example, we can help shape their perspective with an (appropriate) story from our own life. Or, we can share something we’ve heard (like a meaningful quote) that has encouraged us through a challenging time in our own lives.
–Jason Matthews, BTO Mentor Coach
Nancy provides the critical backbone of labor, coordination and communication for Partners for Schools. She understands the heart beat and passion of our school leaders and teachers. “After raising our 4 kids, I know it just does not stop there. It really takes many individuals and a community to support kids, families and schools, and I love connecting the critical dots. Every child can benefit from a caring adult mentor”