Mentor Positivity
Having a mentor — a trusted adult that provides encouragement and support — can make all the difference in teens lives. Research shows that students with mentors have increased high school graduation rates, healthier relationships, and lifestyle choices. It also shows enhanced self-esteem, self-confidence, stronger relationships with parents and teachers, improved interpersonal skills, and a decreased likelihood of drug and alcohol use. In a world full of uncertainty, having a mentor can make all the difference for teens in need of positive guidance.
Unfortunately, many teens are unable to find a stable mentor. One out of every three young people don’t have a trusted adult who they believe they can turn to for advice and guidance. This is where Suncoast Youth For Christ comes in and makes an eternal impact on the lives of the youth in the region. One of Youth For Christ’s (YFC, www.yfc.net) 130+ chapters nationwide, Suncoast YFC’s mentoring program, Life Choices, provides teens the opportunity to find a mentor who can invest in their lives.
Building Trust
“Life Choices started in 2018 and unfortunately was hit pretty hard by COVID,” said Carlos Portillo, Suncoast YFC Bradenton Area Director. “We were forced to shut down but were able to kickstart the program again in the summer of 2022. Fortunately, it really took off quickly, and we have already expanded into several schools in our district. The outreach is designed like a tutoring program, so we meet with our students for an hour a week during the school day and work with them on the curriculum at school.
“Within this last school year, we worked with students with some of the worst trauma found in our community. We see students with all types of issues, such as mental health crises, issues with the juvenile justice system, low GPAs, and more. We’ve even had students run away, not heard from them for months, and then saw them suddenly return.”
Building Faith
Suncoast YFC’s various ministries have made a mark on the surrounding region, with other organizations such as juvenile detention centers, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the YMCA referring teens to YFC’s outreach programs. Throughout all this chaos and controversy, Suncoast YFC mentors provide important, reliable support and encouragement to teens in need.
Portillo said, “Our goal is to always invite them into relationships through our mentors and then point them to Christ. For example, we had a student who needed some tutoring for school and ended up having a long conversation with the mentor there, asking about Jesus and faith. When I heard about their great conversation, I walked up and said ‘I didn’t know you were a Christian,’ and the student said, ‘If you asked me 30 minutes ago, I would have said I was an atheist.’ He started going to church and our mentors worked with him, and he eventually gave his life to Christ and was baptized!”
