After recent happenings in our community, it is quite evident that the success for students is No. 1 on people’s minds. All communities have challenges and one of ours is to help our children succeed successfully in school. School success can be achieved in various ways, and I believe Albert Lea has a wonderful opportunity to help students do better in school.

Success Through Adults Reaching Students, or STARS, Mentoring Connection is an effective community resource that should be integrated into the solutions to help with school success. The mentoring effect can be a powerful factor in reducing the number of youth disconnected from school. It can address school attendance, high school graduation rates, higher-education rates, delinquency prevention and workforce development.

According to the first nationally representative survey of young people on the topic of mentoring, titled, “The Mentoring Effect Young People’s Perspectives on the Outcomes and Availability of Mentoring,” MENTOR, January 2014, the report found that there is a powerful mentoring effect demonstrated by the experiences of young people. Young people who were at-risk for not completing high school but who had a mentor reported higher educational aspirations and matriculation into post-secondary education, as well as greater engagement in positive activities. They were:

• 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.

• 81 percent more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities.

• More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.

• 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.

• Nearly nine in 10 respondents who had a mentor said they are now interested in becoming mentors.

This same report found that one in three young people in our country will grow up without a positive role model like a mentor. Mentoring is a powerful tool to keep kids on the right track. But, unfortunately, it is one that far too many kids don’t have. Mentors come from all walks of life and all sectors of our community.

So, with our latest challenge in our community, let’s see how we can all cooperate to strengthen our public’s desire to help our children thrive with their school accomplishments. Mentoring is one option. If you’d like to discuss this further, feel free to contact me at 507-383-5272. Thank you.

 

Mary Jo Volkman

Albert Lea