Mentorship Is a Bridge

Mentorship is more than just guidance, it's a bridge. A bridge between experience and aspiration, between where someone is and where they hope to go. It connects people, yes, but it also connects possibilities. What makes mentorship so powerful is that it’s meant to be temporary. It’s one of the few relationships built with the goal of growth and eventual independence. In this dynamic, the mentor serves as a steady guide; someone who’s been there, who knows the terrain, and who wants to help others navigate it too.

Growing up, I faced my fair share of challenges that made it hard to imagine a future for myself. In secondary school, I met my best friend, an honors student athlete, who had multiple mentors. He had an academic advisor and an athletic coach who guided him from high school to university and beyond. I watched how deeply involved they were in his journey, how often they checked in, and how much they believed in him. It wasn’t until years later that I truly understood how those mentors shaped the direction of his life.

In 2019, I started mentoring ninth-grade students in Atteridgeville, Gauteng. That experience changed everything. I saw firsthand that mentorship doesn’t just change individuals, it uplifts entire communities. In South Africa, a mentor has the unique chance to impact more than just the student. They can reach families, teachers, classmates, and beyond. The ripple effect is real, and it lasts.

Many students in South Africa attend overcrowded schools where they often feel unseen, just another body in the classroom. Mentorship changes that. It offers students a sense of worth, possibility, and support. It helps them believe they’re not only capable of dreaming big but also of achieving those dreams with someone cheering them on.

Guest Blogger Briana Smith is originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, USA and currently based in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. She is studying Psychology with a focus on Community Psychology at University of Maryland Baltimore Campus. She founded Raize Up, a nonprofit that supports youth development by focusing on the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of South African youth.