Reasons to be a 4H Mentor

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The Utah State extension office has a program for mentoring in our community. Being a mentor has many benefits to all individuals involved. From my experience of being a mentor, I have come up with reasons why other people should be one too.  

 

Opportunities to help others

Mentoring helps students reach success within the 4H goals; improving student's academic performance, enhancing social skills, and strengthening family bonds. As a mentor I was able to work weekly with my student and I could see the impact I was having on her success. She began getting better grades and was getting along better with her sister. She was also enhancing tremendously with her social skills. Before I began working with her she did not have friends at school. Her teacher said that she was struggling interacting with other students. As I worked with her and engaged with her she began conversing with and interacting with other students and peers that she had never even met. The feelings I had from knowing I was helping someone were wonderful. Mentoring is a great opportunity to help others. 

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Gaining and strengthing life skills

Mentoring opportunties can teach life lessons and skills. I strengthed my leadership skills through mentoring. From being a mentor I found that I was becoming less shy and closed in. I began opening up with my feelings and words a lot more successfully because of my mentoring experience. Mentoring also impacts confidence. As a mentor it is important to be confident in the things you do and the way you act as there is somebody always looking up to you. Kindess and love are both life lessons that are strengthed through mentoring. Being kind to others and showing compassion to them is important because the mentor is an advocate. Feelings of hatred or rudeness do not help students in being successful. I gained and strengthened many life lessons and skills from my mentoring experience.  

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Make forever friendships

Mentoring gives an opportunity to gain friendships. As I mentor I was able to meet other mentors that were also in the program that I became good friends with. I also cherish the relationships I made with my student's family. Her parents are the greatest people I have ever met. The most important relationship and friendship I gained was with my student. We still interact and stay in touch even though I am not her mentor anymore. I truly believe that our friendship will last a lifetime. The people mentors are able to meet and interact with are potentially cherished relationships. 

 

Mentoring is fun

Mentors are able to spend a lot of time with thier student and come up with activities to do with them. I was able to go to the movies and out to dinner with my student. We also carved pumpkins for Halloween. The 4H program also puts on activities each month such food drives, pizza nights, or holiday parties. These activites and events are always a good time. I had a wonderful time and experience as I mentored.