As I think about being a mentor I can’t help but reflect on my own youth and the missed opportunities, just because I didn’t know.

As a mentor or mentee, you each share your life experiences.... trust me it's not one sided, you learn and grow from this type of relationship. Hopefully the person that you are mentoring will realize that they are not the only person dealing with particular issue in their life. There are many, many people young and old, who face similar challenges every day and feel alone and uncared for.

I remember as a child and young adult feeling like I had no choices in my future. Not until much later in life did I realize that I did have choices, both good and bad.
I’ve often wondered… What if? About my education, about my insecurities as a young woman, not belonging, no one told me if that was normal or not. No one really bothered to just listen.
What if? I had someone to coach me, care about my grades, guide me, have faith in me, listen to me… what choices would I have made differently, how would my life have changed.

No…I do not consider myself a “DO GOODER”. I’m just an ordinary woman who cares about our young people and their futures and decided to help. Once you get involved, you can’t help but fall for the kids in this program. They are bright, caring, and insightful. If you really listen, you will not only learn about the kids, but will come to understand more about yourself.

To help us achieve our true potential, we all need a friend – someone who cares about us, someone who will take the time to listen.
No matter what our age, the color of our skin, background or abilities. Mentors help these young people by helping them set and achieve their personal and educational goals, by showing them that they do have a choice, by helping them determine their own values and guide them to applying those values to their own lives.

There are too many young people that do not have a caring adult to provide encouragement and support or to just simply listen. Programs like YNOW can provide the link to this support, but programs need volunteers to close the gap.

I encourage everyone to think about the mentors in their life – a team coach, a teacher, a neighbor, a co-worker, a parent or another caring adult – and take a few minutes to thank them and then consider becoming a mentor yourself.

-- Karen Wolff is a mentor for the YMCA's Children of Prisoners Program

• Melissa Swan's series: Children of Prisoners