Giving Compass' Take:

• The author points out the various benefits of mentors for students and mentions that schools can have a helping hand in providing these types of connections and networks to kids who would not otherwise have them. 

• How can schools be more equitable when thinking about mentorships?

• Read about how virtual mentors can expand offline networks and promote career aspirations.

According to a 2014 national survey conducted by Mentor: The National Mentoring Partnership, one in three young people ages 18 to 21 reported growing up without a mentor of any kind, The Hechinger Report notes.

Individuals who have mentors often perform better at their jobs, earn higher salaries and achieve faster career progression than non-mentored individuals. Schools and businesses both play a role in increasing mentorship opportunities: Schools can adopt more work-based study opportunities, and businesses can open their doors through internships, part-time employment opportunities, and participation in work-based programs.

The article notes that “the myth of individual exceptionalism, that truly motivated people can pull themselves up by their boot straps, obscures how people really get ahead — with the assistance of others.” More affluent students often have the chance to network with successful individuals and find mentors to help them jump-start their future careers.

However, less-affluent students often lack those networking opportunities and having a mentor can help them along the way.

Schools can help students find mentors by connecting with businesses to offer work-based learning opportunities. These opportunities benefit students by allowing them to explore career pathways in real-world settings and connect with a mentor in the field.

Read the full article about the benefits of mentors by Amelia Harper at Education Dive