Each one, teach one

Imagine the impact we could have on society if each one of us took the time to mentor one person. Not a family member or someone in a professional society but someone who probably doesn’t even know that they need a mentor. It seems like the people most often taking advantage of mentoring programs already have a leg up on the competition because they know what they don’t know (that they need a mentor) and how to get to it (seek out a professional such as yourself). However, I am suggesting that we reach out to those who might not even know what a mentor is.

I know women who carry expensive bags, wear expensive clothes and shoes but snicker at the receptionist in the office who wears the multi-color weave with nails out to there and outfits that should only be worn in the nightclubs. Imagine if one of these women were to take this young woman to lunch, start talking to her about her goals and how to climb the corporate ladder. Ms. Ghetto Fab may be resistant at first to take advice from Mrs. High Class but image the impact of having this conversation on a regular basis, not giving up but continuing until Ms. Fab realizes her own potential. She may never become Vice President of the company but she will gain more respect from her peers, which may lead to a promotion, her going back to school or just an awareness of the community around her.

People don’t always behave a certain way to get attention or to cause problems but often it’s because they don’t know better. Not everyone is from a family where anyone they know ever puts on a suit and goes anywhere besides church. We complain about the way young men dress but how often do they see images of young, professional men engaged in legitimate activities. I think that it is great that we have our parents to look to for role models but our younger generations feel so far removed from that generation until they don’t think that lifestyle is attainable for them. Rather, they see the perceived quick success attained by musicians and professional artists. They believe they will reap similar rewards by emulating their behavior. Yet we know the facts and the statistics. There are a multitude of career choices outside of modeling, professional sports and being a musician. There are even within those industries, yet many of our young people are aware that they can be anything other than those previously mentioned, a doctor, lawyer, nurse or teacher.

I wholeheartedly believe that most people want a better life, even those already living the “good” life. Imagine if we reach back, take the little knowledge that we have attained to get where we are and share that knowledge with someone who really needs. Someone like the young man who could do a better job grooming himself to be taken more seriously or the young lady who should be buying her clothes one size larger to achieve a truly professional look. It doesn’t take a lot of money, formal mentoring programs or hours of your day. If each one of us were to teach one person about the realities of making good decisions and the definition of success in the real world, imagine the impact we could have on the future.

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