The Power and Privilege of Mentoring

A few months ago, a student sat down opposite me and quietly admitted that the things she was saying to herself were harsh and critical. Over the following weeks, I watched her begin to challenge that voice and learn to encourage herself instead.

Moments like these are why mentoring has become one of the most precious parts of my role at Step, and I have come to see it as both powerful and a real privilege.

All my opportunities to mentor have come about organically. They are students I have met through my lunchtime club, or through the Leadership Foundations course. Because of this, there is usually already a natural rapport between us.

Each student I meet is unique, with their own specific set of issues they would like to explore. Because of this, I have had to lean into God and trust Him to give me wisdom, as there have been times when I have felt a bit out of my depth!

Some students I have journeyed with have needed confidence-building skills, others have been walking through a season of grief or change. Some simply needed a listening ear to process the challenges of being in a busy and overwhelming school environment.

Listening and giving them space to talk things through is powerful and often helps them see things more clearly for themselves.

And whilst the issues they come to me with are different, the overarching response I choose to offer is a “safe space,” where they are completely accepted.

I usually start my sessions with a game or some icebreaker questions to get things off to a positive start. For some students I set goals and targets, for others I work through resources like our 'Tough Stuff' or 'iMatter' journals. Sessions are planned and focused but allow room for a conversation to go in a different direction or to just have a laugh together.

If a student shares my faith, I will often close our time together in prayer, committing their issues to God and praying a blessing over them. I also pray for them regularly in my own prayer time, and it has been encouraging seeing God answer some of the requests I have made.

Overall, it is a huge privilege to walk alongside a young person and enter into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with them than just meeting them in a classroom for a lesson. I have seen real fruit from some of the students I have worked with. As well as the student who learnt to quieten her inner critic, another learnt the value of apologising to friends and parents when mistakes have been made, and another has begun the journey of healing after a bereavement, simply through talking and sharing memories of their loved one.

Every mentoring journey is different, but each one reminds me of the importance of being present, listening well, and helping young people recognise their value. It is a privilege I never take for granted, and I am grateful that, through Step's work, these opportunities continue to make a difference in young people's lives.

Amy