Each February, Seedling hosts Mentor Support Meetings (both virtually and in person), giving mentors an opportunity to meet each other, share mentoring experiences, and offer support to their fellow mentors. This year, mentors were prompted to share about different...
As mentors, we often prepare ourselves by researching topics or attending trainings as ways to hone our mentoring skills and better support our mentees. Doing so can prepare you for a variety of possible conversations and scenarios, therefore having more tools in your...
Finishing Strong & Making It Count As the school year comes to a close, the final months of mentoring offer a powerful chance to make your time together truly count. These moments don’t have to be big or perfect—often, it’s the consistency, presence, and small...
It might seem strange at first glance to consider discussions around grief with a child, mostly because we tend to filter a child’s experiences through our now adult perspective. But grief isn’t just an emotion reserved for the death of a loved one or what counts to...
Check the Facts Teens are entering a phase in life where digital information is all around them. They may come across news articles and videos about current events that may not be entirely true. Here is a guide to help our teenage mentees navigate this new digital...
Mentor defines cultural humility as an ongoing, lifelong process of self-reflection; learning how social identity and experiences are shaped by systems of oppression, power, and privilege. Having cultural humility is key to learning and understanding the cultural...
Loneliness is a state of mind of feeling disconnected from others. People who feel lonely may feel left out, lack companionship, and struggle to connect. Related to loneliness, social isolation focuses on the lack of connections someone may have. There are also...
Internships & Employment Opportunities for Teens As we enter the spring semester, many Austin-area internship programs are opening applications for summer and year-round positions. This is a great time for mentors to talk with mentees about career interests and...
A child’s mental health affects every aspect of their life - relationships, physical health, and academics. Learning about mental health and how to support a young person if they are struggling with a mental health condition is an essential skill for mentoring. ...
As mentors with school-based programs, we become accustomed to having a variety of breaks in the mentoring schedule, like school holidays and summer breaks. As we’ve often learned and discussed in Seedling trainings, it’s essential to re-establish a connection and...