Lost in Thought: Five reasons why you should consider becoming a mentor
I have been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada for over five years now and it has been a rewarding experience. When I was younger, my mother and father always expressed how important it was to give back to the community. In fact, my parents met while volunteering in Haiti a few decades ago while helping others in need. In a world filled with famine, violence, global warming and uncertainty, it’s important to do our part, however small it may be. Here are 5 reasons why I think you should consider mentoring a child.
1) In the process of mentoring someone, you learn so much about yourself and get a better understanding about younger generations.
When I first became a Big Brother, I thought I would be the one teaching and setting an example. While that is true to some extent, I have learned so much about myself. I’ve learned about patience. I’ve learned about balancing relationships and keeping commitments. I have learned to become a better listener. I’ve also learned more about a younger generation which helps me understand the future leaders of tomorrow. Throughout this process, it has taught me how open and accepting younger generations can be, and the problems they face today.
2) Mentoring allows you to stop thinking about yourself for a moment and contribute to a larger picture.
Humans in general can be quite selfish. We think about our future, our careers, our relationships.
Our wants.
Our needs.
Our desires.
It is important to practice selflessness from time to time. Mentoring allows us to turn it around for a moment and apply the focus on someone else.
3) You gain a different perspective on somebody else’s life, culture or background.
During the 5+ years that I have been a mentor, I have discovered how my mentee lives, more about his life and his culture. One example is my discovery of Ethiopian food, a food I knew little about and likely wouldn’t have tried unless someone introduced me to it. We now frequent a restaurant a few times a year and I often find myself craving it. It’s delicious, full of flavour and I am thankful that I was able to discover more about my mentee’s culture through something we both enjoy, food.
4) By mentoring, you have the opportunity to shape the leaders of tomorrow and in the process, contribute to a healthier, more stable society.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health together with Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada received a 1.7 million dollar grant to do a 5-year study on mentoring and how it positively influences younger people's lives.
Overall, they found that children with mentors had a much more positive impact on society. Some of their findings include (I reference boys in this case as it relates to me):
Boys with a Big Brother (mentor) were 3 times less likely to suffer from peer pressure related anxiety
Boys were 2 times more likely to believe that school is fun and that doing well in school is important
Boys are 2 times less likely to develop negative behavioral problems like bullying, fighting, lying, cheating, losing their temper or expressing anger
While I can never take full credit for the positive impacts I’ve had on my mentee’s life (his mother plays the biggest role), it’s refreshing to know that in doing this, I am making some kind of difference.
5) You’ll end up with much more than a mentee.
This part is important to me because I consider my mentee much more than a mentee. He’s a brother. He’s family. I can’t imagine a life without him in it. I’ve seen him grow from a little boy that barely stood higher than my waste, to a young man who’s almost reached my height. I’ve watched a younger kid who was getting bullied at one point to someone who is confident and stands up for himself. I truly enjoy hanging out with him and catching up. I’ve gained a friend for life and I am forever grateful for this experience.
For more information on how you can become a mentor with Big Brothers big Sisters Toronto, click here.
