January 17, 2020

Every child craves one-on-one attention from a trusted friend. But with classrooms stretched thin, families burdened, and after school programs cut, many children lack someone to look up to — a mentor who can help them develop a better vision for their future beyond the limited horizons that hold them back.

Have you ever considered that this mentor could be you? In fact, here are ten reasons that make you a good fit to volunteer with Mercy Home’s Friends First Mentoring Program.

10.) You Are You

Sounds obvious, but it’s true. Mentoring isn’t about having a special talent — it’s about being yourself. If you are patient, a good listener, and can be a positive role model, you already have what it takes to be a good mentor.

9.) You Want to Give Back

If you want to make the world a better place, mentoring is an ideal place to start. With Friends First’s one-on-one match program, this is your chance to be the change you wish to see in the world by being a role model to an underprivileged kid.

8.) You Have a Willingness to Share Skills

You have your own set of skills, knowledge, and expertise that is unique to your life experience. This wisdom begs to be shared with others, especially kids who want to learn, but have no one to turn to.

7.) You Have Time

Mentoring won’t consume your calendar. In fact, Friends First only asks you to commit to meeting with your mentee twice a month. Think of all the time you spend doing things that could be better spent making a life-changing difference in a kid’s life.

6.) You Love Culture

Whether it’s your favorite museum, your favorite restaurant, your favorite sport, your favorite music, or your favorite cultural destination, your interests can broaden the horizons of a kid who’s never left their neighborhood. Chances are, your mentee will also share their favorite things, broadening your horizons as well.

5.) You Are Compassionate, Empathetic, and Kind

You have the ability to see from the perspective of others and feel their emotions, especially those in need. You feel a desire to alleviate distress, simply by showing up and offering to help. This alone makes you an ideal mentor.

4.) You Are Motivational

You have always been one to lift others up. You know the right words to say and the right actions to take to drum up inspiration when the chips are down. Maybe you are a former coach or teacher looking to influence a new generation?

3.) You Are Trustworthy and Honest

Integrity is in short supply these days, but you have it in spades. You are a upstanding person of your word and everyone knows they can count on you. You are objective, fair, and diplomatic. All these qualities create a bond of trust, and make you a great mentor.

2.) You Want to Inspire Success and Leadership

Studies show that children who are mentored are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college, 81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities, 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities, and more than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.

1.) You Want To Take Action Now

Friends First Mentoring Program currently has about 11 young people on our waiting list, most of whom are boys waiting to be matched with male mentors. Our wait list alone illustrates an essential request: Friends First needs more male mentors. Since, Friends First only makes same-gender matches, one of our challenges is finding enough men to accommodate our list of boys.

You obviously have what it takes to make a difference in a young person’s life. Take the first step to becoming a mentor with Friends First by registering for an upcoming info session through our online portal.