Mentors Can Make the Difference for Scholars Returning to School this Fall

By Jared Adams B.A, M.A.S, Ed.D Student in Higher Education

As a detective, community activist, and mentor, I have personally witnessed how the paths available to young people can shift depending on the guidance they receive. With a new school year approaching, thousands of K-12 scholars are walking back into classrooms with fresh supplies and high hopes. But beneath that exterior surface, many are facing challenges that heighten in September. Scholars enter school facing academic pressures, peer dynamics, family difficulties, or simply fearing that they do not belong.
Mentorship can bridge that gap and help students navigate these challenges. A mentor is not just someone who tells a student to behave or reminds them to study. A mentor is a consistent voice of encouragement, an example of resilience, and often a person who sees potential in scholars, especially when they do not believe in themselves.
Working in law enforcement, I often saw how quickly young people could be pulled in the wrong direction with a lack of support. But through mentoring, I have observed the opposite. Scholars who once had high self-doubt thrived when they knew someone was consistently in their corner. Sometimes all a scholar needs is someone to listen to them, remind them that setbacks are inevitable but temporary, and a strong belief that their future is worth fighting for.
Honestly, teachers and parents cannot shoulder the responsibility of Scholars’ success alone. An entire village must step in. The Board of Education can play a key role by creating mentorship opportunities, connecting students with positive role models and supporting program initiatives that build bridges between the Orange School district and the community. Mentors, whether through formal programs or simply adults in the community who care, can help scholars set goals, handle pressures, and instill a belief in them beyond any possible obstacles.
As scholars across the City of Orange head back to school next week, the call is clear: mentorship is not a suggestion; it is essential in the success of our scholars. If we want our scholars not just to survive the school year but to thrive, we must invest in relationships that remind them they are seen, supported, and capable of greatness. One caring adult can change a young person’s trajectory and often, their life.