One-on-one mentoring and advising is a crucial component of our program at BSLC. How does it work?
The member-staff mentoring relationship is perhaps the most important connection a BSLC member will have, but it can’t and won't be rushed. The staff advisor has no particular agenda other than getting to know the new member. The advisor builds trust by bringing no expectations to the table and trying to find out what is relevant to the teen. Then, once the member trusts the advisor and sees them as an advocate who will protect their autonomy, the real work can begin.
With their advisor’s guidance the member will learn the difficult art of using their autonomy to structure their own life. This is the one skill that all successful people share, and every single human being who develops it will do it differently. There is no one right method and every advising relationship is distinctive, but eventually the BSLC member begins to draw on the resources available to them - classes, tutorials, study groups, clubs, activities, the social community - to expand their understanding of what is relevant and important to them. And deep lasting and genuine learning only happens when the member sees the content as relevant and important, as well as applicable to building their identity.