Anyone can become a mentor

9/6/2023

Teammates are often associated with your counterparts in the sporting world, but the word can take on a separate meaning.

What started in Lincoln, Nebraska, under legendary University of Nebraska football coach Tom Osborn, has started to spread throughout the country. A total of 22 of Osborn’s players began mentoring local middle school students in the early stages of the TeamMates program, and, of the original 22 mentees, 18 ended up obtaining some form of post-secondary education.

The mentoring program has spread to Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota and Iowa.

Mercedes Hoffmann, an accountant in Des Moines, began her mentoring journey in 2021. Over her three years of mentoring, and with the help of her accounting background, Hoffmann has been able to join the board of directors and become the treasurer. 

“After I moved to Des Moines around 2018, I knew I wanted to find some volunteer opportunities, and I saw that TeamMates had a chapter in Des Moines. So I reached out to the coordinator in town, and I got set up,” said Hoffmann.

Her kickoff with TeamMates was delayed by the pandemic, but once it slowed down and schools returned to normal, Hoffmann got her start. She points to those close in her childhood who inspired her to get involved.

“I had a lot of family and friends that I really looked up to growing up that led me toward the success I have now in my life. It’s good to be able to give that back to somebody else and mentor them,” said Hoffmann.

Hoffmann has been with the same student throughout her time as a mentor. Being able to build that connection through consistency can greatly increase how much a mentor can positively influence his or her mentee.

Working at a daycare, as a gymnastics and cheer coach, and at a summer camp helped set the foundation Hoffmann needed to play a significant role as a mentor.

“I have a lot of experience with younger children and interacting with them. In that respect, I felt prepared going into this, and that’s what led me to this type of volunteer activity,” said Hoffmann.

This has helped Hoffmann and her mentee create a positive and effective relationship during their time together.

“My mentee and I have had a great experience bonding together. We get along really well. I think our program coordinator does a great job putting the right people together so that these matches have longevity and have a lot of substance to them,” said Hoffmann. 

Through their similar interests, activities and time together, Hoffmann has already left a lasting impression on her mentee.

“I know she gets really sad when the school year is up because that means she won’t see me for a couple of months, but she’s getting excited for TeamMates to launch again for this school year,” said Hoffmann.

Naturally, the focus in these programs is the effect they have on the children. What’s often overlooked is what mentors feel, experience and learn in their time molding the next generation.

“There’s definitely a lot of pride. I love to see her succeed and do well and, I mean, she’s just a great kid overall. She didn’t necessarily need me to do well. She’s got a great head on her shoulders, but it does give me a big sense of pride just to see her thriving and doing well,” said Hoffmann. 

To be a successful mentor to a child, you don’t need to be an educator, teacher or coach, but to be present and, most importantly, give an effort. Hoffmann believes the more, the better.

“I think it’s really good to have as many people as possible involved in a child’s life that are lifting them up and giving them all sorts of kindness and support and love. I think that’s going to lead to a more successful generation of children who are well rounded, feel good about themselves, go out, do big things and are successful,” said Hoffmann. 

As we grow older, we can become cynical. But kids will always be kids and provide the positive and open-minded perspective older generations sometimes lack.

“I feel like we have such a different way of looking at things. I feel like, as adults, we can be kind of jaded or cynical with life. I want to take some of (my mentee’s) positivity and optimism and shove it into my life,” said Hoffmann. ♦