What Is A Mentor?
A mentor is:
a) A Friendb) A Teacher
c) A Coach
d) All of the above
The answer is "D." A mentor may wear many different professional hats (sixth grade teacher, favorite aunt, basketball coach), but the one thing that all mentors share is the ability to listen and encourage.
The word mentor actually gets its roots from Homer's "The Odyssey." When Odysseus left Ithaca to fight the Trojan War, he asked his good friend Mentor to watch over and guide his son Telemachus. So from that, we define mentor as a wise and trusted friend and guide. If you had that someone when you were growing up who listened to you, believed in you, and helped you to become who you are today, thank that person. If you would like to pass that gift on and be a Mentor, we can help you find your Telemachus.
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Find a Mentor
If you are social worker looking to find a mentor for a young person, please contact us
to have The Guide to Mentoring Programs in New York City mailed to you. If you would like to speak with someone, please feel free to call our toll free number at 1-800-83-YOUTH.