Fall 2025 Winner of the Youth Mentor Scholarship

Riley Markham

Riley is a firm believer in the positive impacts of youth mentorship. He feels that mentorship has the power to strengthen communities, which then creates a better world. Congratulations, Riley – we are so excited to see what your future holds!

Read his essay:

Youth mentorship and youth services programs are tasked with creating strong, successful, and solid communities. They provide guidance, support, and access to opportunity for youth, particularly those who lack their own role models or access to resources. Through observation and experience, I have come to see the power of programs that work with youth and how they can transform individuals and even entire communities, reducing crime, improving education, and yielding future leaders.

One of the major reasons why such programs are crucial is that they offer guidance and assistance at a critical moment in a teenager's life. Teenage years are years of confusion, anxiety, and decision-making that can mold the future. Without guidance, most adolescents fail to make the right decisions. I have experienced this first-hand by my involvement in a community mentoring and tutoring program. Some of the children we served came from single-parent families or from financially struggling homes. With minimal support at home, they felt alone and overwhelmed. Mentorship gave them an adult to talk to, someone to confide in, and to look up to. In some cases, having a consistent adult presence in their life served to keep them on track in school and out of trouble.

Mentorship programs also close the gap between potential and opportunity. Talent is common, but opportunity is not. In under-resourced communities, even the best students with ambitions and aspirations are not necessarily aware of how to locate scholarships, attend college, or place on a viable career path. Through youth programs, mentors introduce students to resources and networks they would not have discovered on their own. I remember one of our students who was interested in science but thought that attending college was not feasible because of financial constraints. With the help of his mentor, he secured scholarships and even ended up at a university close to his home. He is now a student of biomedical engineering. His case is but a single echo of the potential of mentorship to inspire young people to make the best out of themselves and break poverty traps.

Beyond the benefits to individuals, youth services also positively impact the broader community. Engaged and empowered youth are less likely to get involved in crime or violence, leading to safer neighborhoods. I’ve seen this especially in after-school sports and arts programs that keep students engaged and give them a sense of belonging. These activities offer a healthy release of energy and emotions and can assist young people in building self-esteem and self-discipline. One local community center where I volunteered had a significant reduction in youth problems after expanding its basketball and music programs. Young people are less likely to pursue negative influences when they have positive, structured support systems.

Mentorship programs also foster a sense of giving back. If young people can benefit from a good support system, many are encouraged to become mentors themselves in the future. A cycle of positivity is created that establishes stronger communities in the long term. I've kept in touch with some of the adults I mentored years after, and some have even become mentors themselves. To see them share their time with the next generation is proof that these programs do not only serve the individual but sow seeds towards a more caring and connected society.

To conclude, youth services and mentoring programs are essential because they provide needed support, open doors to possibility, and build better communities. Whether through academic support, career advice, or emotional guidance, these programs offer youth the tools they need to succeed. In my own experience as a volunteer and mentor, I have witnessed the impact that these relationships can have. By investing in our young people now, we are investing in a more just and better world for all.