Can One-on-One Fill in the Gaps?
- Claudia Marques Molina
- Mar 30, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 14, 2020
Even though the concept of being a mentor or a mentee is not new, and neither are its benefits, there are still people who strive for success without ever considering mentorship.
And it might work, for individuals who live in particularly privileged circumstances. However,
“Luck is what happens when preparation means opportunity” – Seneca
This almost 2000-year-old statement elucidates why the odds of successful stories among minorities who have lower levels of education or wealth are as low as finding a four-leaf clover.
When considering Americans’ average wealth, income, or educational attainment data, which are the best indicators for economic stability and success, it is imperative to break them down by race since this social-constructed identity establish real gaps of opportunity in millions of people’s path to success (so does gender, for that matter).
The gaps
According to the Pew Research Center, white households have four times the amount of wealth black families have and three times that of Hispanic families, in lower- and middle-income household levels.
To measure wealth, debt needs to be accounted for and subtracted from assets. Some common examples of debt are homeownership, credit card statements, and student loans. A 2018 study finds African American students to be more likely to have college debt, and higher debts, than their white counterparts. Over time, black youth in the study reported 85% more debt at baseline:
“Black young adults are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, are more likely to have left college without getting a degree and to attend for-profit institutions, and have significantly lower social and economic well-being in young adulthood”
Clearly, affording education varies extensively according to race. The study above focused on analyzing the growth of debt over time because that amount might change if a student decides to take on another degree or postsecondary education. Also, there are students who carry around growing debts but that haven’t graduated at all.
In fact, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Bi-racial students have the highest percentage of students with some college, but no degree. Hispanics represent 33% of students who have less than high school education.
But what if there was a light to all this negative – but realistic – data? Could mentorship be an answer?
How can mentoring help
First off, let’s think of it this way: when was the last time a new year’s resolution became true? How often do people skip the gym or a diet or that interesting phone call because they didn’t have time?
More often than not, plans become bigger than us and too overwhelming to deal with, alone. And procrastination, bad time management, and organizational problems may happen to everyone.
Those fortunate enough, once they recognize having these issues, will most likely be able to hire a life coach. But when you are dealing with discrimination, segregation, debt, insecurity, poor living conditions or hunger, you wouldn’t call yourself a procrastinator.
A mentor for the minority youth is usually a mirror of hope. It is someone that will check on them, identify their weaknesses or setbacks and provide answers or challenges based on their own experiences.
If anything, mentors offer mentees an opportunity to skip “beginner’s mistakes” because they have been through similar hardship and they know some of the do’s and don’ts.
For minorities, who start behind socio-economic dominant groups, having a mentor might be that small leap that pushes them forward and that helps close the gap little by little.
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