Young people need mentors who will invest in their future. Would you volunteer?
Be the Difference: Unlocking Potential Through Mentorship
When Destiny first met her mentoring match through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, she was hesitant.
Anita, her new Big, was older than Destiny had expected, but they soon discovered their shared love for Prince's Hot Chicken, and from that small moment of connection, a beautiful mentoring relationship blossomed.
Destiny shares that her Big inspires her to be a better version of herself and to go after her goals without doubting herself.
Through countless small moments, the power of mentorship is profound. When you're at a crossroads or simply seeking motivation and connection, there's nothing quite like sitting down with a trusted mentor and sharing what's on your mind.
For 55 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee has been the steward of countless invaluable mentoring relationships, connecting adult volunteers with young people one-on-one to foster personal growth, emotional resilience and academic success.
In 2024 alone, BBBSMT served nearly 800 young people across eight Middle Tennessee counties and created 175 new matches between mentors (Bigs) and their mentees (Littles). With the support of a caring adult, 97% of our Littles reported that they were able to maintain or improve their emotional regulation.
But this is about more than just numbers or percentages. These are stories of impact.
Drew became a first-generation college graduate thanks to the positive influence of his mentor, Brian. Kenyan says his Big taught him how to be a man and a leader. Thanks to April's support, Skye realized that she isn't alone and always has someone willing to listen to her.
As someone who has served as a Big herself, I believe we find our sense of self and our value in this world through what we offer to others. Service connects us to one another, and it builds the roots of our community. The investments we make in each other today – in our young people in particular – are our legacy for the future.
We reap what we sow. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, we believe every child has incredible potential – they just need the opportunity to cultivate it. One in three children in the U.S. grows up without a sustained, positive adult mentor; but it's BBBSMT's mission to change that. Every child deserves to reach their full potential, and we have the power to help them get there.
While January was National Mentoring Month, we are shining a spotlight on the urgent need for more mentors to support the young people in our communities all year. Over 100 young people in Middle Tennessee are currently waiting to be paired with a mentor.
You can make a direct impact on a young person's life by becoming a Big. BBBSMT offers a range of mentoring programs tailored to different lifestyles, schedules and interests, including community-based mentoring, site-based programs, e-mentoring, and specialized opportunities like Sports Buddies and the College Advancement Program.
No matter your schedule or interests, mentorship is about showing up, sharing experiences and building meaningful connections. All our mentorship programs are professionally supported.
Together, we can create brighter futures for Middle Tennessee's young people. Join us in empowering the next generation through one-on-one mentorship. Visit mentorakid.org to learn how you can become a mentor, support our programs or refer someone who might be interested.
Melissa Hudson-Gant is CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Learn more at mentorakid.org.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mentoring young people is a strong legacy adults can leave | Opinion
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