Written by Kierna Bright, Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference

Mentors are a guiding light through chaos, a steady source of trust and guidance amid the noise of growing up or navigating life’s twists and turns. A mentorship isn’t just meaningful, it’s also joyful. Mentorships are about sharing laughs over a board game, turning someone’s difficult day around, or tackling a new project together. They open the door to new perspectives and meaningful connections — relationships that grow in both directions, where mentees inspire and impact their mentors just as much. They provide inspiration and bring on new insights, which creates a mutual exchange of hope, learning, and growth. This growth happens within the small moments, in consistent and meaningful steps that leave a lasting impact and bring immense happiness.

The encouragement that a mentor can spread doesn’t just come from a title or a formal program. Mentors can be anyone, as they are found in the workplace, classrooms, or encountered in everyday life. From a coworker who teaches you more than working at a register, to a teacher who listens beyond a syllabus, everyday mentors shape lives in quiet and powerful ways. In the big picture, mentors allow their knowledge and experiences to act as a torch to be passed down to the novice. Often, it’s in casual and unexpected moments that the most meaningful connections can begin.

These connections don’t just impact the individuals involved; mentorships can ripple outwards, positively impacting the families and community surrounding them. According to research performed by Dr. Lillian Eby, Mentorships can heighten self-esteem and foster motivation, while also reducing risks such as substance abuse and school dropout rates (Eby, 2018). This is because mentors are role models, demonstrating alternative ways to gain social and educational experiences. Mentors help develop a network of resources and support systems that the mentee can lean on in times of difficulty.

This network can guide the mentee by helping to make big life decisions, succeed in school, or find peace amongst everyday stress. Mentors don’t come out of the gate with an instant level of rapport, but these relationships often develop naturally, built by dependability and trust over time. Becoming a reliable support system means being honest, trusting, and carrying the relationship with professionalism and inclusivity for whoever their mentee is or what they’ve experienced (Cliffen, 2025). This isn’t just a commitment to a time of day or a period; it’s also dedication to that mentee’s dreams, goals, and access to opportunities. Through both trials and triumphs, and whether the day brings an emotional state of delight, frustration, calm, or stress, a mentor becomes a steady presence, reminding the mentees that they are never alone.

Mentorships create strong relationships, and these kinds of invaluable experiences have shaped many world leaders and icons today. Oprah Winfrey’s mentor was Maya Angelou, Yves Saint-Laurent’s mentor was Christian Dior, and Audrey Hepburn mentored Elizabeth Taylor (Merrill, 2015). These bonds are for everyone, and their powerful impacts aren’t just theoretical; they are happening right now in various programs.

One example of mentorship in action is the Ray of Light Mentorship Program at the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference in Binghamton, New York. This program pairs 11– 18-year-olds in the agency’s care with committed and compassionate adults. Together, they can attend community events, share meals, go to the local parks, or spend quality time together working on homework or arts and crafts. The goal is to create a stable, supportive environment using positive reinforcement for kids to have fun while learning and growing through the challenges that are presented to them.

Becoming a mentor is more than just guidance, but the joy one can introduce into someone else’s life. Mentors themselves often discover new hobbies, build new connections, and see the world from a fresh perspective. In the small moments of laughing over a game, learning a new craft, or simply talking about life, these memories build genuine connections and true contentment. This is why the experience is often just as enriching for the mentor as it is for the mentee.

Becoming a mentee is about having fun, finding friendship, and feeling seen. When a mentor enters a room, the mentees’ eyes light up knowing that they are free to be themselves and dream big. Mentors give the youth an opportunity to experience the simple pleasures of being a child, all while knowing someone who cares for them is right by their side. This is what helps to build that confidence and resilience, and over time, helps them navigate their way in this world. Mentorships are transformative in the most heartwarming way. It’s the pride in a finished painting, the excitement of an A+, and the comfort of knowing someone is there to support them at the end of the week. Becoming a mentor means becoming a part of someone’s happiest memories. They are a gift, and all it takes to change a life is to show up and become a steady beacon of light in their world.

Works Cited

Cliffen, I. F. (2025). Values needed to be a great mentor. National Mentoring Day. nationalmentoringday.org/resources/Values-Needed-to-Be-a-Great-Mentor

Eby LT, Allen TD, Evans SC, Ng T, Dubois D. Does Mentoring Matter? A Multidisciplinary Meta-Analysis Comparing Mentored and Non-Mentored Individuals. J Vocat Behav. 2008 Apr;72(2):254-267. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2007.04.005. PMID: 19343074; PMCID: PMC2352144.

Farber, Steve. (April 4, 2018). Want to Be a Great Mentor? Make These 4 Powerful Commitments. Inc. www.inc.com/steve-farber/mentoring-commitments-will- make-you-a-better-thought-influencer-heres-why.html

Merrill, Jennifer. (September 13, 2015) Top 25 Mentoring Relationships in History. The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring. www.evidencebasedmentoring.org/top- 25-mentoring-relationships-in-history/