In a rapidly changing world, young adults face a lot of different pressures. Director of Army Instruction for Indianapolis Public Schools Lt. Col. Matthew Mount highlights the transformative effect mentorship can have.
Mount, who also served as the Public Information Officer for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department before his current role, pointed out how often he encountered those lacking good role models.
“I saw too many instances of people who would end up in jail because they lacked the proper mentorship, leadership or parenting that they really needed,” Mount said.
Last month, Mount attended the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) at Camp Atterbury. With over 200 participants, it was the largest class in the last five years.
“I had never seen so many young adults who were glad to be without their cell phones for a while,” Mount said.
He pointed out how mentorship extends beyond advice; it fosters relationships grounded in trust, empathy and intertwined experiences. For high school students in JROTC, mentors like Mount play a pivotal role in academic achievement, career preparation and personal development.
“At JCLC, we teach leadership skills and cultivate an environment where cadets can flourish long-term,” Mount said. “Many junior cadets come from diverse backgrounds and have faced hurdles in their life.”
Mount emphasized mentorship’s universal relevance, not limited to military or educational domains.
“We are not recruiting for the army,” Mount said. “We are simply trying to help them become the best person they can be.”
In tumultuous times, mentorship can take on a heightened role. It can offer stability and encouragement amid global and societal upheavals.
“Mentors provide practical advice that shapes decisions and outlooks,” Mount said. “Mentorship is a big key to self-confidence and success.”
The effect often transcends the mentee; mentors foster fulfillment by contributing to their communities and witnessing mentees’ growth.
“It’s a mutual relationship,” Mount said. “We learn from them just as much as they learn from us.”
Investing in mentorship programs within schools, communities and organizations helps ensure development among those who need guidance. Mentorship remains a faithful pillar while cultivating tomorrow’s leaders of the new age.
As the junior cadets came down the repel wall at Camp Atterbury one final time, Mount hoped they would take something of value away from this year’s leadership challenge.
“We are trying to give them values to live by forever,” Mount said.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news courtesy of the Indianapolis Recorder, visit our homepage.
