Every Raise youth mentoring program is supervised by a qualified, professional Program Counsellor. Each has their own reason for wanting to support young people. One Program Counsellor tells us her reason why.
My teen years
Raise Program Counsellor Margaux grew up with a keen awareness that young people need to feel safe and supported to thrive. Margaux reflects on her own time as a teen and says that at the time the world felt like a big, scary place. “I fell through the cracks – I didn’t act out, I just didn’t think I was academic and I didn’t feel secure. I didn’t recognize my own strengths and wish that something like Raise had been available to me during that time”
My experience as a mentor
Speaking about how she came to Raise, Margaux explains “I always wanted to study psychology and work in mental health. Those studies began in 2022, then I saw an ad for Raise. I wanted to help young people and decided to mentor. My first Program Counsellor was so supportive and fantastic. I learnt a lot about myself. I also learnt to chill out and focus on the young person.”
Margaux wanted to ensure through her volunteering that young people had a safe space where they could open up and develop trust. In the process she grew her own confidence. “Mentoring helped me believe in my ability to help others. I also felt very connected to the 15 year old me. I can say to the young person I am mentoring - I was there, I know who you are, I see you.”
Raise youth mentoring is designed to support teens during those vulnerable years of 13-16, to help them recognize their strengths, develop confidence, build resilience and feel hopeful about the future. “I want these young people to learn that they are enough as they are. We all have strengths and interests. Raise mentoring brings these strengths out, they get nurtured and grow. When you’re a teen, your passions are not always encouraged, only your education. Some of these young people will not have been truly listened to their whole lives” says Margaux.
After 2 years of mentoring Margaux saw the difference it made. “I saw some of these young people finally show the world who they are. I saw changes, something as significant as coming to the session without headphones on – wow what a change in confidence. I particularly saw it in some of the quieter ones. Raise gives these young people a voice. They are the center of attention the whole time and they thrive.”
How I benefited by being a volunteer mentor
Mentors also report significant benefits from the Raise experience. “In society we are disconnected, we live in a big hustle culture. Work hard, go hard. In doing that we often lose meaning and purpose. When I was working in that culture, mentoring gave me a break from the hustle. I had the opportunity to connect to other mentors and realise I can make a difference, that I am contributing to something worthy and good. It became the answer to my search for meaning, even though I wasn’t aware of it at the time” says Magaux.
Elaborating further, Margaux says “the greatest personal gift from mentoring was seeing that I was showing up in a way others hadn’t in that young person’s life. I was able to give what I hadn’t received as a teenager.”
Aligning my values with my career
Following her mentoring experience, Margaux decided to join the Raise team as a Program Counsellor and outlines why. “Studying psychology taught me the importance of objectivity and evidence based support. Our own bias is something we need to be aware of and Raise runs programs that rely on evidence. I love working in groups, bringing people together in safe spaces. Having that evidence base is so important, the rigour ensures the programs are effective.”
The benefits of mentoring for corporates
Margaux encourages others to mentor when she can and believes it is particularly beneficial for people working in corporate environments, explaining “people learn skills which will help them in their careers. Upskilling and effective communication is the net result. People learn patience and active listening; really hearing what the other person is saying. Responding not just reacting. That has huge benefits for any business. We all think we can listen, but active listening is letting the other person know you’re listening. Saying - I see your point of view and take it on board.”
Having experienced being a mentor and receiving the support of a great Program Counsellor, Margaux understands the significant benefits to be had by being part of the program and is thrilled to now be working in an area so aligned with her values. “I’m finally living and working with my values. When I worked in the corporate and retail world it didn’t gel. I used to think I would have very little impact in my work, now I want to change the world – one program at a time.”
