In a youth mentoring program, a natural mentor is a trusted adult that educates and provides guidance to the teenagers, especially with regard to the teen’s decision-making. Natural mentors influence teenagers to make positive decisions and choose what would benefit the teens’ lives. Natural mentors have a great impact on a teenagers’ sense of self—the perception of a person with regards to himself.

D. Teens with a natural mentor have a higher sense of self.

A natural mentor provides guidance and educates teenagers with regard to their life choices. Parents, adult family members, teachers, school counselors, coaches, clergy members, and other trusted adults can be considered as the natural mentors for teenagers.

B. A parent or other trusted adult

Mentoring was originated in Ancient Greece by which was considered as an approach to provide young people the importance of having personal, social, and spiritual values in one’s life. Youth mentoring programs provide juveniles with a natural mentor whose main purpose is to promote positive personal development and growth, such as improving self-esteem, and prevent engagement in risky and violent behaviors, such as delinquency, through providing support, guidance, and nurturing relationships. Mentoring programs appear to be a positive influence on the self-development, career progression, and overall confidence of teenagers, especially at-risk youths.

Natural mentors have a great impact on one’s educational and occupational attainment, behavioral and emotional development, physical and psychological health. Natural mentoring has resulted in improved developmental outcomes, especially for at-risk youth, including decreased illegal drugs and alcohol use and violent behaviors associated with delinquency. Mentoring has also been associated with a reduced possibility of developing mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, among adolescents. Additionally, youths who have natural mentors tend to have better academic performance, a positive attitude, and better perceptions in life.

There are three characteristics that are considered in order to determine the effectiveness and success of the relationship between the natural mentor and the youth—having common interests, emotional bond and frequent contact, and the span of the relationship. When the natural mentoring relationship exhibits these characteristics, youth can experience a greater sense of self and overall well-being.

A natural mentor can provide valuable and sensible advice that could be beneficial to the well-being of the youth, especially when deciding certain things in life. The mentors could also help in the youth’s knowledge and skills development through supporting and suggesting possible expertise that the youth could achieve. Youths could also improve their behavioral and communication skills with the help of their mentors. And lastly, through the guidance and support of the mentors, every youth would have a better perspective and goals in life.

Persuasive essay about the importance of having a natural mentor