If you’ve got any kind of inkling that you’d like to work for yourself and work with young people in some way, this article is for you. Maybe you already have experience with young people, or maybe you don’t – it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that spark inside you that says, “I want to make a difference.”

I started this journey back in 2012 after a two-year battle with cancer (Amanda here, founder of Shine From Within!). That experience made me realise life is short, and I felt deeply called to work with young people. You see, I wished I had known more about myself and had access to life skills programs when I was a teen. Most of all, I wished I’d had a mentor to guide me through those challenging years and into early adulthood.

So, What Does Being a Youth Mentor Really Mean?

Let me tell you – it’s probably not what you think! It’s not therapy, teaching, or friendship, though we might incorporate elements of all three. In my experience, a youth mentor is simply a kind soul who creates a unique, nurturing space for young people to explore who they are and who they want to become.

And here’s what I love most about youth mentoring: there are so many beautiful ways to do it! Since 2012, I’ve tried just about everything you can imagine:

• One-on-one mentoring sessions
• Group workshops
• School programs
• Mother-daughter retreats
• Online programs
• And so much more!

Each format has it’s own challenges and benefits. I love getting to dive a bit deeper with teens in one-on-one sessions. AND I love the magic of holding space for a group of teens or tweens and seeing how much they can support each other too. I love bringing in different experts and facilitators with different energy to me to share their wisdom and experience and I LOVE how each moment can unfold unexpectedly and we can never really know where a conversation might go (in the best way!). 

I love the feedback or letters you can get from students and parents years after you’ve held a week-long holiday program or retreat. And I love how much I’m always learning from the young people around me. 

I’ve loved creating products with teens too, like our conversation starter cards or writing a book for teens. There’s just SO much you can do in this space and it’s my mission to make sure every teenager around the world has a well-equipped, nurturing, fun mentor in their life. 

Real Stories That Inspire Me

I also absolutely love seeing how our Certified Youth Mentors around the world are showing up for young people in their own unique ways. Let me share a few examples that just light me up:

There’s Pinar – a yoga teacher, engineer and youth mentor in the middle or setting up a camp for teens in Turkiye!

There’s Josselyne who is a maths teacher and photographer and loves supporting her students but looking forward to doing it outside the school system. She’s going to combine her photography skills with a longer term personal development project in Georgia, USA.

And then there’s Bec – the local school in her regional town in South Australia pays her to run 1:1 mentoring sessions with all of the students in Grade 6. She does most of them via Zoom at home and they’ve set up a room for the kids to go to at the school. It works well for her capacity and she loves getting to meet with them weekly. 

Is This Something You Could Do?

You might be wondering if you have what it takes to do this too or what it could look like for you. Maybe you’re thinking you don’t have enough experience, or you’re too young, or too old, or not qualified enough. Can I tell you something? Those doubts are completely normal (we need to be constantly up-skilling and making sure we’re holding a nurturing space), but they don’t have to stop you.

What I’ve learned from training hundreds of mentors in over 30 countries is that your life experiences – all of them – are exactly what make you uniquely qualified to support young people. Whether you’re in your twenties with fresh memories of your teen years, or in your sixties with decades of wisdom to share, there’s a place for you in youth mentoring.

The most important things are:

• Having a genuine interest in supporting young people (which I know you do, or you wouldn’t be reading this!)
• Being willing to learn and grow
• Staying patient and flexible
• Maintaining integrity and honesty
• Creating nurturing spaces for growth

Want to Know More?

While I’ve shared a glimpse into the world of youth mentoring here, there’s so much more I’d love to show you! How do you actually start a youth mentoring business? What practical steps do you need to take? How do you ensure you’re creating safe and effective programs?

I cover all of this and more in my free training series, where I share my complete roadmap to starting a successful youth mentor business. You’ll discover:

• The different needs of various age groups (and how to meet them!)
• Multiple ways to create income streams doing what you love
• Essential considerations for working with youth
• How to find your authentic mentoring style
• Practical steps to get started right where you are

I’d love to see you in the training! Click here to register and let’s explore how you can turn your passion for supporting youth into a fulfilling business.

Remember, we need you. The world needs more people who care enough to step up and support our youth. And I have a feeling that person might be you. ?

Here’s to new adventures and a purposeful season ahead…

Amanda