As you prepare to begin your year of mentoring, I would like to encourage you to remember the simple, yet most important things in the relationship you create with your student. To be honest, I understand the apprehension of meeting a student for the first time or struggling through an hour that feels like an eternity. On those occasions, it might be tempting to depend on the latest and greatest games or gadgets. Yet, in a culture that breeds insecurity and inequality, children today need to feel safe, they need to feel important, and they need to feel loved.
So, how might you be able to convey these things in your mentoring hour? There are two things that are vitally important. First, be intentional about using your student’s name. It is not uncommon for kids to be called lots of different names with negative connotations. In fact, I met with a student in my office this week who told me that the only thing she remembers about her second grade year was that most kids at her school called her “Chubs.” As you can imagine, that name was quite destructive for that little girl. As a mentor, you hold the power to show respect to your student by consistently using the student’s given name. Jesus modeled the importance of using our names in John 10:3, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (emphasis added). Consequently, when you speak your student’s name, he feels valued and respected.
Second, offer consistent eye contact. Within our tech-crazed culture, kids often feel neglected or forgotten because caregivers or friends become consumed with texting, tweeting, or talking on their cell phones. When you engage a student through consistent eye contact, you are communicating that your student has your undivided attention. Even if your student only meets your eyes sporadically, they are receiving the message that they are important enough for you to put away your cell phone.
While these ideas might seem rather simple, I am confident that they will begin to pave the way to a successful mentoring relationship. May you be richly blessed as you engage with your students through their eyes and ears.