Why mentoring matters more now
Instant access to more information than ever and less space to process it is a real challenge young people are facing.
A mentor provides a supportive space for young people to process their thoughts and feelings to find clarity.
Young people are dealing with a lot
Girls are navigating comparison to others, friendship dramas, body image stuff, school work, family relationships all while figuring out who they are and what they want out of life.
Thanks to the internet and social media, the next generation are more exposed to stimuli than ever.
It's not just young people, we're all living it. Our attention spans are shorter. We're all spending more time looking at other people's lives than living our own.
Girls are growing up with that as normal, which is a lot to ask.
Mentors help build the skills that aren't taught in school
A quality education is so important to open doors for young people.
What they don't teach in school is how to filter through the noise enough to be present in her own life. How to work with a difficult person in the workplace. How to speak up when she's the youngest in the room. How to ask for a fair wage or salary, or to apply for her dream job even though she feels underqualified.
Instead we learn it by trial and error over many years. Without the awareness of what's going on, it can feel like you are the problem. Mentoring helps young people gain the awareness and skills they need to navigate this.
We take a strengths-based approach - we help young people discover their unique strengths and values.
Confidence isn't about being the loudest in the room. It can be, if that's authentic to you.
Sometimes it's quietly powerful.
It's about knowing who you are and accepting yourself wherever you're at. Trusting that you have all the answers inside you.
Knowing you are worthy of love and goodness without needing to achieve something to deserve it.
What mentoring is and isn't
It is
-
A trusted adult who listens without fixing
-
Regular, dependable sessions
-
Practical tools - setting goals, study, friends
-
A supportive space to talk about things teens might not feel comfortable talking to Mum or Dad about
It isn't
-
Therapy, counselling or psychology
-
Crisis or clinical support
-
Tutoring or academic coaching
But it can be supportive for teens in addition to these services.
Hi, I’m Ash
When I was 15, there were times I felt completely alone with feelings I had no words for. Then one adult sat with me, present, listening, not needing to fix. That's when I understood what holding space for a young person actually does.
My superpower is listening. I've mentored and coached young people for years through junior netball and high school programs. I've also completed Shine From Within's Youth Mentor Training.
I started Worthie because I'm passionate about creating spaces for young people to build core life skills like confidence early in life.
Worthie values
Respect
We believe every young person is inherently worthy and whole already.
Compassion
We lead with empathy, patience and warmth
Integrity
We are honest, consistent and responsible with our influence.
Inclusion
We strive to make our sessions as inclusive and accessible as possible.