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The Power Of Mentors

​“What I think the mentor gets is the great satisfaction of helping somebody along, helping somebody take advantage of an opportunity that maybe he or she did not have." 

— Clint Eastwood

Mentorship is an invaluable asset, opportunity and experience – with tremendous value not only for the mentee, but for the mentor as well.​

Riverside Mentor Collab- 2.jpgThat was the message of JUSD Superintendent Elliot Duchon, guest speaker at the 2019 Mentor Awareness Community Fair on Jan. 19 at the Jurupa Area Recreational and Park District.​

“The true gift lies not in giving advice but in walking along with someone through their struggle," Mr. Duchon told an audience of more than 150 community members, local leaders, educators and students.​

In a speech exploring the power of mentorship, Mr. Duchon touched on ways he's learned without limits as a mentor.  For JUSD's longtime leader, the lessons have included:

  • Missions pick you; you don't pick the mission.
  • Government help is not always easy to obtain.
  • A lot of us are tough, but grit doesn't happen overnight.
  • The struggle is shared.
  • Seeking help is difficult.
  • Volunteering makes you a better person.
  • What you don't want to do is sometimes what you are best at.

Community groups represented at the event included Angels United for Minis (AUM) equine therapy, Riverside Rape Crisis Center, JUSD Adult School, Women Wonder Writers, Riverside City College, Mt. San Jacinto College, UC Riverside, Reach Out, Sheriff's Explorers, Riverside County Fire, Jurupa Sheriff's Station School Resource Officers, HOPE Collaborative, Inland Empire Health Plan, and many others.  Riverside Mentor Collab-3.jpg

​Attendees received lunch, bicycle helmets and backpacks.  

The mentoring awareness fair, presented by the Riverside County Mentor Collaborative, also included a city proclamation that January is National Mentoring Month in Jurupa Valley along certificates for 12 student volunteers from Jurupa middle and high schools.

Six students from JUSD Student Youth Court – Crystal Arellano, Hekili Faris-Baude, Aminah Knan, Claire Pierce, Arianna Sanchez and Crystal Toral – were assigned individual mentors for the day by Alida Plascencia of the Riverside County Mentor Collaborative.  They assisted with setup, registration and backpack distribution.

“Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor."

Lailah Gifty Akita​