GYM​
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Make a Difference

One day a woman was walking along the beach upon which hundreds of starfish had been washed up and now lay stranded on the sand. As she continued walking, she noticed a young girl in the distance, picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. She approached the girl, and asked, "What are you doing?" The girl replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. They need to be in the water, if I don't throw them back, they'll die." "My daughter," the woman said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference!" After listening politely, the girl bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then she looked up, smiled at the woman, and said: 
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​"I made a difference to that one."
Application
4 Reasons to Become a Mentor

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1. Change a young person's life.
2. Stay hip and keep up with the times.
3. Help build a better and more stable society.
4. The life you end up changing could be your own.


Application
Mentor Job Description

Time Commitment
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  • Approximately one half to one hour per week during school hours (flexible around your schedule)
  • Make at least a one school year commitment
  • Attend an initial one and one half hour training session
  • Attend advanced training sessions offered throughout the school year
  • Attend end of year ice cream social with your mentee at their school

Mentor Role
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  • Serve as a positive role model and friend.
  • Build self-esteem and motivation.
  • Form a relationship of mutual trust, respect and friendship​​
Benefits
  • Personal fulfillment through contribution to community and individual
  • Satisfaction in helping someone mature and progress
  • Training sessions and group activities
  • ​On going support, to help the match succeed
​
Application
Why Mentor?

Mentoring offers students a pathway to expand their life perspectives, overcome obstacles, and build on their own strengths to make positive choices and develop essential school and life skills

Mentoring is a proven strategy to build resilience and strength in children.  Students in consistent mentoring relationships have been shown to be:​
  • less likely to begin using drugs or alcohol
  • less likely to engage in violence
  • more likely to attend school 
  • more likely to have a positive attitude towards school 
  • more likely to be positive towards others​
"My mentor has helped me to achieve just what is out of reach."
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From a Guilford High School student 
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"A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of you to show you how they did it. A mentor walks alongside you to show you what you can do."
Application

Who Are Our Mentors?
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  • 165 mentors in Guilford’s Public Schools, 90 - women, 75 - men. 
  • The youngest mentor is 21, and the oldest is 83. 
  • Fifty-nine percent have been part of the program for three or more years.
  • Guilford natives or native New Englanders. 
  • Grew up across the country; others across the world.
  • Inveterate travelers
  • Homebodies​​

The differences in how mentors spend their days is vast; We have
  • Teachers, coaches, doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, dentists and physicians; assistants​Entrepreneurs, bankers, financial planners and investors
  • Business owners - mechanics, lawyers, realtors, tree specialists, printers, restaurateurs and sail makers
  • Presidents, vice-presidents, CFOs and CEOs
  • Writers, editors, engineers, police officers and fire fighters
  • Musicians, artists, jewelry designers, chefs, travel consultants, event planners, yoga, cross-fit and spin instructors, and tennis pros
  • Some of our volunteers are now retired
In other words, there is no typical volunteer.  It does not take a particular kind of person to be a mentor – just a kind person who can give special attention to a child.
Application
Member Agency of:
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Guilford Youth Mentoring
605 New England Rd Guilford, CT (203)453-2741 Dial 7 for Mentoring
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  • Main
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Meet the Mentors >
      • Ask Me Why I Love Mentoring
      • Handprints
    • Stories from the Heart
    • Gallery
  • Become A Mentor
    • Application Process >
      • Submit an Application >
        • Volunteer Application
        • Release & Agreement Form
    • FAQs
  • Donate
  • For Current Mentors
    • Mentor Resources
    • Our Schools >
      • GHS
      • E.C. Adams Middle School
      • Abraham Baldwin Middle School
      • Calvin Leete
      • A.W. Cox
      • Guilford Lakes School
      • Melissa Jones
      • Guilford Public Schools
    • Training
    • Blog
  • For Parents
  • In The News
    • DonateNew