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Breaking Barriers: How Mentorship Transforms College Access for Underserved Youth
How Does Mentoring Impact College Access For Underserved Youth?
The transformative power of mentorship stands at the heart of educational equity. When underserved students connect with mentors who share their lived experiences, something remarkable happens – confidence blossoms, academic performance improves, and pathways to higher education become clearer.
Dr. Marcia Sturdivant, President and CEO of NEED, reveals how representation in mentoring creates immediate trust and understanding. "Students who have personalized attention from people that look like them tend to fare better than their peers," she explains. This connection isn't just comfortable – it's foundational. When mentors have navigated similar challenges, they validate students' experiences while simultaneously showing that barriers can be overcome.
Much of NEED's mentorship work focuses on dismantling harmful stereotypes that unconsciously limit how students view their own potential. Through open conversations about the origins and falsehoods of racial stereotyping, mentors help students develop critical thinking skills to reject limiting beliefs. "When you instill that in students, they have a confidence so high," notes Dr. Sturdivant. This confidence directly translates to improved academic outcomes and higher education success.
The organization thoughtfully matches mentors with students based on shared experiences and community connections. For those interested in becoming mentors themselves, Dr. Sturdivant emphasizes key qualities: genuine care for minority students, patience, and a consistently positive outlook. The selection process maintains high standards because, as she puts it, mentors must "treat our kids as if they were your own."
Ready to support educational equity through mentorship? Connect with NEED today to discover how you can help transform a student's educational journey and future possibilities.
To learn more about NEED visit:
https://www.NEEDLD.org
NEED
429 Fourth Avenue, 20th FL, Suite 2000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-566-2760
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By Dr. Marcia SturdivantHow Does Mentoring Impact College Access For Underserved Youth?
The transformative power of mentorship stands at the heart of educational equity. When underserved students connect with mentors who share their lived experiences, something remarkable happens – confidence blossoms, academic performance improves, and pathways to higher education become clearer.
Dr. Marcia Sturdivant, President and CEO of NEED, reveals how representation in mentoring creates immediate trust and understanding. "Students who have personalized attention from people that look like them tend to fare better than their peers," she explains. This connection isn't just comfortable – it's foundational. When mentors have navigated similar challenges, they validate students' experiences while simultaneously showing that barriers can be overcome.
Much of NEED's mentorship work focuses on dismantling harmful stereotypes that unconsciously limit how students view their own potential. Through open conversations about the origins and falsehoods of racial stereotyping, mentors help students develop critical thinking skills to reject limiting beliefs. "When you instill that in students, they have a confidence so high," notes Dr. Sturdivant. This confidence directly translates to improved academic outcomes and higher education success.
The organization thoughtfully matches mentors with students based on shared experiences and community connections. For those interested in becoming mentors themselves, Dr. Sturdivant emphasizes key qualities: genuine care for minority students, patience, and a consistently positive outlook. The selection process maintains high standards because, as she puts it, mentors must "treat our kids as if they were your own."
Ready to support educational equity through mentorship? Connect with NEED today to discover how you can help transform a student's educational journey and future possibilities.
To learn more about NEED visit:
https://www.NEEDLD.org
NEED
429 Fourth Avenue, 20th FL, Suite 2000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-566-2760