High School Helpline

with Cheryl A. Bastian

A red vintage rotary telephone off the hook with its handset resting below the base.

with Cheryl A. Bastian

We’re tackling some of the most common questions parents ask and sharing simple action steps to make it easy.

Question: Can We Incorporate Mentors into the High School Years?

Older man wearing glasses talking with a young man while holding a pencil over notes.

bserving students’ strengths and encouraging their interests may require praying for and finding mentors who can provide opportunities for personal and spiritual growth and development, as well as skill and knowledge acquisition. This is particularly true for areas of interest that are unfamiliar to the parents—perhaps herpetology, digital photography, kinesiology, or hydraulic brake systems. Ideally, mentors would be humble, empowering, and season their conversations with grace and truth, providing learners with opportunities to grow academically as well as personally.

Our family values mentors. We have experienced the benefits of the significant, pivotal roles individuals can play in the spiritual, emotional, and cognitive development of our children. Our high schoolers have thrived, learning with one-on-one instruction and on-site or on-the-job training that books could not teach. As our young adults expressed an interest in an area, we began to pray and consider who might be a good role model, experienced tradesperson, professional influence, or athletic mentor. From the connections came activities such as volunteer service, team sports, church leadership, and certifications. Responsibility, work ethic, life and communication skills were inherent to these co-curricular experiences and helped our high schoolers reach out to something bigger than themselves, experiences that touch the heart and impact the lives of others.

Mentors

Mentors can help students process thoughts, build confidence and character attributes, and refine skills, including soft skills or interpersonal communication techniques.

Mentors work well for areas of:

Emotional growth
Spiritual growth
Skill development

For high schoolers interested in writing for publication, having a writing mentor, such as a published author, could be a logical next step. I know several high school students who have benefited from being apprenticed by an author or encouraged by a writer’s critique group where authors gather to hone their craft.

Mentors cultivated my love for education. Knowing my interest in education, an ESE professional invited me into her classroom for a few hours each afternoon during my senior year of high school. I learned teaching and tutoring methods from watching her interact with students. Later that summer, after I graduated from high school, I worked as a preschool teacher’s assistant, mentored in early childhood education by teachers and a director. They modeled professional standards and teaching methods and fostered and honed my strengths as a prospective educator.

Mentors can work with teens in a general way, or more specifically as masters to apprentices or coaches.

Masters

Apprenticeships are usually arranged to pass along a skill or trade, for example, piano tuning. There are different levels of apprenticeships, some of which include degrees.

Apprenticing works well in the areas of:

Trades and technical skills
Agriculture and animal care
Culinary arts and catering
Design
Digital media

My dad apprenticed with a cabinet maker during his high school years, and our mobile mechanic began his career by apprenticing with another mechanic. Apprenticeships offer the ability to learn a skill while also processing faith and life questions. There might even be an avenue for a future job opportunity.

Young woman and older woman sitting together in a kitchen looking at a tablet screen.

Coaches

Although the title of coach is most often associated with athletics, coaching can be effective in any field, for example, public speaking, personal wellness, writing, and even leadership. Coaches come alongside, empowering and inspiring individuals to gain self-awareness, physical well-being, and maximize personal potential or skill level.

Coaches can help:

Identify goals
Build action steps for skill development
Build confidence

Mastermind Groups

Mastermind groups are another potential for mentorship. These groups are usually focused on developing a skill and meeting to process ideas, set goals, and offer accountability to members. Groups may meet online or in person. Online meetings are particularly helpful to learners who live in rural areas where there are limited resources in an interest or field.

When I began writing for publication, I became a member of a writer’s critique group. The group met monthly to read and evaluate members’ writing. Knowledgeable, experienced authors made suggestions to hone writing skills, offer insights into hiring an agent, and discuss media work. Similar groups welcome high school students where they can hone their craft with a writing mentor, such as a published author.

High Schoolers as Mentors

There is also value in high schoolers mentoring younger learners or players. Taking on a mentor role provides an avenue for high schoolers to learn leadership and communication skills while impacting younger learners and players through tutoring, serving at church, offering private instruction, earning money, or obtaining volunteer hours. For example, our high school seniors have assisted preschool and Sunday school teachers, tutored younger siblings, and taught private lessons.

Seek wise mentors, coaches, and members of mastermind groups who are experienced in strategic questioning, problem solving, and active listening and can expand the educational opportunities for high schoolers. These individuals understand the value of imparting wisdom and skill to others, which ultimately may provide an opportunity for employment or a chance to learn how to be a mentor to younger children.

Can mentors be incorporated into the high school years? Yes! And I am cheering you on as you seek opportunities for your learners.

heryl Bastian has been married to Mike for thirty-seven years and began homeschooling in 1993. A mother of eight children and Honey to four grandchildren, Cheryl knows the trials and triumphs of embracing each season of life and is passionate about equipping and inspiring parents who want to nurture a desire for life-long learning in their children and grandchildren.

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