Mentoring youth to make positive life decisions

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Abstract

Making positive life decisions is a skill that can be modeled successfully when working with youth. Using an eight-step process outlined by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory will encourage youth to do the same when facing tough decisions on their own. Nancy Henry shared this effective practice on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in November 2004.

Issue

Decision-making is a skill that needs to be learned. Mentors can help youth practice strategies in a controlled environment, helping to build confidence and competence in the process.

Action

When working with young people, mentors can ask questions that model an effective decision-making process. With practice and familiarity, youth will begin to use the process independently when facing tough decisions. According to Nancy Henry of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, use the following steps when mentoring youth about the decision-making process:

Step One: Surface feelings."Am I right in thinking you're upset?" "What are you feeling right now?"

Step Two: Name the problem. "What would you say is the problem?" "Does something need to change?"

Step Three: Decide on your goal. "What do you want to have happen?" "What do you want to accomplish?"

Step Four: Brainstorm solutions."How many ways can you think of to reach your goal?"

Step Five: Evaluate each possible solution. "What are the pros and cons of each solution?"

Step Six: Choose the best solution. "Given the pros and cons of each solution, what makes the most sense?" "Which solution will best help to achieve your goal?"

Step Seven: Develop and implement a plan."What is the first thing you will need to do to carry out your idea? The second? The third?"

Step Eight: Evaluate your plan."What happened when you carried out your plan?" "What did you learn that might help you next time?" "Do you need to try another solution or rethink your plan?"

Context

Many youth have a desperate need for positive role models. Busy or absent parents are part of the reality of a changed American family structure; indeed the number of single-parent homes has increased, as have two-parent working families. Mentoring can provide youth with the support and guidance they need.

Mentors and mentees usually engage in activities such as talking together about the mentees past experiences, goals, plans and skills; the mentor's career path; useful problem solving strategies; attending meetings, conferences, and other events together; having the mentee observe the mentor handling challenging situations; role-playing situations faced by the mentee; exchanging and discussing written materials; co-authoring a publication; or interacting with other people.

Outcome

Good mentoring helps young people develop confidence and competence. Knowing the right questions to ask can not only help youth develop important life skills, but offers mentors more success in dealing with mentees.

Posted On

November 9, 2004

For More Information

LEARNS at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

101 SW Main Street, Suite 500

Portland, OR 97204

Toll-free: 1-800-361-7890

Fax: (503) 275-0133

Website: http://www.nwrel.org/vlc/learns.html

Email: learns@nwrel.org

Resources

NSSCTalk is an e-mail discussion group, created primarily for the participants in the National Senior Service Corps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Anyone with related concerns, however, is invited to join in.To subscribe by e-mail, send a blank message to join-nssctalk@lists.etr.org

Or subscribe via the Lyris Listmanager web page at http://lists.etr.org/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=nssctalk/.