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.
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
  • 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
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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."
​From a Guilford High School student ​
"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."

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.