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Mentoring Stories

Ever wonder what mentoring is really like? Below are just a few examples from across America of what happens when a caring adult connects with a young person. Interested in becoming a mentor? Find an Opportunity.

Share the experience. Submit your own mentoring story.

Joe and Brandon
Minnetonka, MN -- Mentoring pair Joe and Brandon have enjoyed some big bell-and-whistle moments, but what stand out are the small joys. More...

Dominick and Warren
Pittsburgh, PA -- Pennsylvania Residents Dominick and Warren Create Mentoring Success Stories Through Allegheny Youth Development Group Mentoring in Pittsburgh, PA. More...

Sandra and Krystal
Reading, PA -- Pennsylvania Residents Sandra and Krystal Create Mentoring Success Stories Through the Youth Experiencing Success Mentor Program in Reading, PA. More...

Becca and Elizabeth
Philadelphia, PA -- Being Becca's mentor has made all the difference to Elizabeth: "Becca has been a great help to me. She has helped me prepared for college, the biggest problem that I had." More...

One on One Mentoring Story
For young black men at risk, fatherly attention trumps institutional interventions. More...

Sarah and Emma
Burlington, Vermont -- Twelve years together and counting, mentor match Sarah and Emma continue to write on the pages of each other's lives. More...

Trudier and Tiarra
Chapel Hill, North Carolina -- Mentor pair Trudier Harris and Tiarra Headen push each other to live fully—whether it's working for an A in AP Spanish or parasailing over a large body of water. More...

Alex and Isaac
San Antonio, Texas -- One of the first things that struck Alexandra when she met her Little Brother Isaac for the first time was that he always wore black. He was only nine years old and was intensely shy. That was a decade ago and a lot has changed. More...

Eric and Alex
Sault Ste Marie, MI -- Our story isn't extraordinary or unique. In fact, it's probably the same story that thousands of other Big Brothers/Big Sisters would share with you about their experience getting to know a total stranger. More...

Charmaine and Chris
Baldwin, NY -- Chris Garcia calls his mentoring relationship with Charmaine Robin, "a life-altering experience." He is more confident about the challenges lying ahead and feels he's better prepared for them. More...

Donald and Adam
Jacksonville, FL -- Without the steadfast support of his mentor, who knows where Adam would be today? He felt he was going down the wrong road, and credits Don with helping to turn his life around. More...

Travis and Karen
Minneapolis, MN -- Travis and Karen have exposed each other to new ideas and experiences. Travis has found Karen helps her open up and allows her to maintain a balance of youthful fun in her hectic life. More...

Tom and Amii
Washington, DC -- Not every fourth-grader has the good fortune to have a United States senator as her reading mentor. Amii says that her mentor has helped her set goals. More...

Phillipa and Danielle
New York, NY -- A little over a year ago, Phillipa walked into a room filled with new faces. A young girl with the brightest smile she had ever seen approached her and said, "Hi, I'm Danielle…I'm your new mentee. More...

Wilson and David
Brooklyn, NY -- David attended public school where he was only one of a very small handful of Asian-American students. He had difficulties relating to his classmates and his new parents. To reconnect him with his cultural heritage, David's parents contacted APEX to pair him with an Asian-American mentor. More...

Karen and Brittany
Davenport, IA -- In the eight years that they have been together, Brittany and her Big Sister, Karen, have enjoyed many activities together. Brittany’s favorite experience was as a young girl, Karen took her to a tea party for her birthday. More...

Lindsey and Chad
Mesa, AZ -- I am inspired by Chad's smiling face and passion for life. Without Best Buddies, I probably would never have become best friends with Chad and would never have been able to strive to wake up every morning with a smile on my face, because I know that's what Chad would do. More...

Catrina and Shereena
Minneapolis, MN -- Big Sister Catrina understands the pressures facing kids and teens. Catrina is one of the many high school students currently sharing their first-hand experience and wisdom with young children in BBBS of the Greater Twin Cities' high school mentoring program. More...

Ken and Vince
Boynton Beach, FL -- "I want him to be happy, nice, and do sports with me," wrote Vincent on his application to the Mentoring 4 Kids program. In 2002, Vincent had just relocated to Boyton Beach, and was living with his mother, Michelle, and his grandparents. He missed having a father figure in his life. More...

John and Yuri
Boston, MA -- John and Yuri soon discovered that both shared a passion for automobiles. Their mentor coordinator at the time, Susan MacDougall, recalls, "John drove race cars as a hobby, while 12 year-old Yuri had more car magazines and models than he knew what to do with. It seemed like a natural fit." More...

Kelly and Cedrica
Fort Worth, TX -- "We always do things I would have never thought I could do," says Cedrica. "Kelly helps me to do better in school and sometimes we talk about me going to college." More...

Matt and Sam
Minneapolis, MN -- Matt hoped to provide Sam with a friend to talk to, another point of view and additional support. Wanting to help Sam with his academics, they spend some time each week working on schoolwork. Matt tries to challenge his Little Brother while making it fun at the same time. More...

Bengo and Devon
Minneapolis, MN -- Despite growing up halfway around the world, Bengo knows many values are universal. He hopes to instill the value of education in Devon. Together, they are unlocking the secrets to a lasting connection and a lifetime of success. More...

Sue and Lizzie
Minneapolis, MN -- For nearly three years Sue Gordon has been a committed Big Sister to Lizzie, matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities school-based program. Sue has found that sometimes the laughter and friendship that bond women together can transcend age. More...

Becky and Susan
Memphis, TN -- "Susan gives me hope," Becky says. "We talk about my life, but we talk about her life too. She has a nice life, and I realize that the harder I work, the better my life will be." More...

Jennifer and Jada
Greenville, NC -- Jennifer and Jada clicked from the very start when they were first matched nearly two years ago. They continue to develop their relationship, enjoying weekly activities from making crafts to hiking in the woods. More...

Angela and Amber
Minneapolis, MN -- For the past eight years Angela has been a committed Big Sister to Amber, matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities community-based program. Through law school and now with the Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, she has been a constant presence in Amber's life. More...

Kenedy and Megan
Presque Isle, ME -- Megan has been fortunate to have many influences in her life. "I have been blessed to have a circle of mentors which include my family, and church family. They have always shown me that with hard work, dedication, and a goal, anything is possible." More...

Dwight and Terrence
Alpharetta, GA -- With Mr. Dwight's encouragement, Terrence put together a plan for what he wanted to do after college, what college he should attend and what barriers might pose a threat to his plan. More...

John and Mario
Fillmore, CA -- Mario says he has changed a lot since first being paired with his mentor, John. He now has goals, a solid grade point average of 2.8 to 3.0 every semester and plans to work in the health care field after graduation. More...

Evonne and Catherine
Norfolk, Nebraska -- For five years now, Evonne and Catherine have been in a mentoring relationship that has deepened with time. Catherine is now a senior who makes honor roll and plays cello in the school orchestra. More...

Bob Marco and Marc
Los Angeles, CA -- "[My mentor] Marco really helped me shape my future. He showed me parts of life I'd have never known and helped me develop values that have lasted a lifetime." More...

Michael and George
Alexandria, VA -- Throughout Michael's turbulent home life, George has remained steadfast, being the positive presence the boy needs, and reassuring him that he "will always, always be his friend." More...

Kenny and June
Dover, DE -- While he's already very warm, energetic, and outgoing, his teachers still felt Kenny needed support academically and emotionally. He was paired with June, a woman whose love and energy is felt by everyone around her. More...

Peter and Matt
Dover, DE -- Peter is certain that being a mentor was the right thing to do: "I believe we've made a difference by our sharing of our families and experiences. I've learned that people need other people in order to grow. Matthew and I just like being together." More...

Don and Shane
Dover, DE -- Don and Shane's relationship started building right from the beginning. Shane remembers, "At first I thought he would be all boring, but second day I said to myself, 'You know, he’s actually fun after all!'" More...

Steve and Dwight
Waterloo, IA -- "He is making pretty good progress," said Steve after meeting with [Dwight] this week. "He's made a lot of growth." More...

Harry and Joe
Groton, CT -- Groton Mayor Harry Watson not only talks the talk. He walks the walk. Harry has found joy as a mentor to Joe, a fourth-grader at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. More...

Sylvia Laura Ann Britanee and Najhaee
Rocky Hill, CT -- And what does Sylvia like best about being a mentor? "I believe everything comes around full circle," she says. Giving back what she received as a child "brings the warmest feelings." And best of all: "We've become friends." More...

Lynn and Monica
Grand Island, NE -- Lynn says, "During our five-and-a-half years as friends and TeamMates, [my mentee, Monica and I] shared the ups and downs of life. We acted as true and dedicated teammates would…when one struggled, the other was there with strength and insight to back them up." More...

Josh and Lenny
Stillwater, MN -- Lenny encourages Josh to believe in himself, and models trust and respect, which has helped Josh develop his own self-confidence. "Josh is a bright kid, who needed a good male role model," Lenny says, adding, "If my spending time with Josh helps to improve his life, it’s worth every minute." More...

Scott and Dalvin
Valdosta, GA -- As Elton Dixon, Scott and Dalvin's mentor coordinator says: "There's no better way to explain the mentoring experience than this: mentoring is inviting a child to share your life with you. You don't have to scheme up any intricate activities. All you need is an open heart and an attentive ear." More...

Mike Teresa and Tony
Valdosta, GA -- Tony remembers, "Before I met Mike and Teresa, I was really a quiet kid. I liked to be by myself. As I started to hang out with them, I started to open up. I was more friendly. I love to talk and tell jokes, but most of all I started to feel good about who I was." More...

Shannon and Gen
Baltimore, MD -- In January, 2003, Shannon had been out of college and working for two years, and at the time had been thinking of finding a way to give back to the community and get involved with a child. As fate would have it, an announcement for The Maryland Mentoring Partnership appeared on her television screen. More...

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