Mentor for a High School Student for College Readiness- URGENT

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Role Summary

A mentor is a loyal advisor, guide, confidant, and role model. They are a caring individual (other than the parent or guardian) who will help students with postsecondary college plans. Mentors will be part of a team who is supporting a young person through an ongoing, three year, two-to-one relationship, and serve as a positive role model. Mentors might help students explore a career path, colleges, life skills, and communication etiquette. Mentors are willing to share their own lived experiences, professional background, and interests to create long-lasting relationships.

After being trained in the program curriculum, Mentors and their Mentor partner will be responsible for guiding their mentee through the curriculum and facilitating personal exploration. The Mentor is responsible for creating a welcoming environment for all participants; providing structure, resources and support to their mentee. Mentors will also assist the Minds Matter team with program reporting and review processes.

Time Commitment

• 8-10 hours per month, 3 Year Commitment

Basic Requirements:

• Graduate of credible college or university
• Must complete and pass a background check and reference checks
• Able to commit to 3 years of participation with a time commitment of approximately 2-3 hours/week, including:

○ Attend two-hour orientation session before program kickoff

○ Mentor training hosted before mentoring sessions (one every 3-4 weeks, 11:00-12:00)

○ 24 weeks of Saturday mentorship sessions total (12:00-2:00)

Mentor Traits

• Dependable
• Able to maintain a steady temperament when frustrating situations come up
• Listens well, seeks to understand, and is curious about the young person
• Provides leadership
• Values the differences & similarities between you and your mentee, and open to learning
• Consistent
• Adaptable to change

Participation Requirements

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have graduated from a credible college or university
• Be interested in working with young people
• Be willing to adhere to all program policies and procedures
• Be willing to complete the application and screening process
• Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments, especially the two hour mentoring sessions each Saturday for three years.
• Attend two hour orientation before programing
• Attend 2 hour training and other trainings as required
• Be willing to communicate regularly with program staff
• Have a clean criminal history
• No use of illicit drugs
• No use of alcohol or controlled substances in an inappropriate manner

Benefits of Mentoring with Minds Matter

• Matched with a mentee based on shared interests
• Orientation and training provided
• Opportunities to learn best practices from other mentors
• Receive regular communication and updates from staff advisors
• Satisfaction in helping a young person mature, progress, and achieve goals
• Receive ongoing support & supervision to help the match succeed
• Achieve personal growth and learn more about yourself
• Improve your self-esteem and make a difference
• Gain a better understanding of other cultures and develop a greater appreciation for diversity
• Have fun

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Possess a desire and a commitment to disrupting the poverty cycle by helping students attend college
• Serve as a role model, advocate, and resource for mentee throughout their three years
• Engage in content with your mentee during session along with providing feedback and support throughout the class activities
• Collaborate with your mentor pod to determine best practices to support your mentees
• Inform Program Directors of any issues or concerns that arise during sessions
• Provide leadership, vision, and feedback to Minds Matter to ensure the organization meets the needs of the participants and the community
• Model behavior that is grounded in integrity and credibility, as well as provide a model for healthy, trusting relationships through clear communication and setting of appropriate boundaries

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

It is expected that the candidate for this position has all or most of the following:

• Experience working with youth and/or youth organizations
• Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills, including active listening and ability to offer support and encouragement when appropriate
• Ability to critically think and problem solve
• Ability to actively moderate and facilitate interactive learning and open conversations
• Ability to work digitally and conduct on the fly research on colleges and universities to share information with students

Application and Screening Process

• Written Application
• Personal interview
• Criminal history check
• Provide personal references
• Attend two hour orientation before program kick off
• Attend additional mentor training as offered