- Personal deficits and deficiencies. Do you have significant
unresolved emotional scars, insecurity, and instability that might trip
you up?
Once you have thoroughly assessed the situation, have an under-
standing of the level of your involvement, and have honestly exam-
ined your ability for effective service, then you are ready to engage in
mentoring.
FOURMENTORINGMODELS
There are four mentoring modelsthat complement the four levelsof
mentoring that we discussed earlier.
The first mentoring model corresponds with the “soft mentoring”
level. It is the serendipitous model.In this model you meet with the stu-
dent and just hang out, such as for a walk through the park or the mall.
And while you’re doing this, credible and valuable things happen. This
model has no particular structure or regularity. Many mentors
serendipitously influence nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Although it is low-key, such involvement can be very effective.
The next mentoring model, which corresponds with the
“medium” mentoring level, involves utilization of existing programs and
organizations. Why reinvent the wheel? One of the best-kept secrets in
our country is the Boy Scouts of America. More churches today
should seriously consider doing what many churches used to do:
sponsor Boy Scout troops. Huge doors swing open for a child who can
list “Eagle Scout” on his resume.
The third model istailor-made, special niche mentoring,and it corre-
sponds with the “hard” mentoring level. Mentoring occurs around a
shared interest, something unique that two people come up with.
Particular areas could be music, sports, or business.
The fourth model is planned, didactic interaction.It involves teach-
ing, and it corresponds to the “hard-core” level of mentoring. The
mentor and mentee get together for the sole purpose of teaching and
learning. The interaction is based upon the fact that the mentor has
knowledge that the mentee does not have. Boys, especially, need a man
in their face challenging them.
178 BUILDINGSTRONGFAMILIES