Life as a Teenage Therapist

 Sometimes I think life would be so much simpler if I was a boy. I say this because over the years, I’ve learned that as a girl  it’s nearly impossible to escape drama. Day after day there’s some new dilemma being shared with me, and I’m often unable to keep up as my phone is flooded with texts. News flash ladies!!! The boy you like not texting you back does not call for a breakdown and the immediate need to text all your friends with the incredibly misused phrase “my life sucks.” The truth is, your life probably doesn’t suck, you’re just dealing with something a little difficult or scary. As girls we are at some point or another  going to find ourselves serving as a mentor in times of distress and sadness. So buckle up and get ready to embark on the bumpy ride that is being a mentor to emotional, irrational teenage girls.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love that my friends can trust me enough to come to me with their problems and look at me as a mentor as they go through the traumatic experience that is being a teenage girl. But over the past couple of years, it seems that the problems are getting more serious and the solutions are getting tougher to find. It used to be so easy: “Tommy said he didn’t like my hair,” “Suzy wouldn’t tell me her secret,’ “Johnny didn’t sit next to me on the bus.” Now, as we get older and the world seems to be self-destructing around us, I feel like I’m in the big leagues, and I’m feeling the pressure. I have one friend in particular that’s extremely reliant on me as a mentor, and I’ve spent countless nights on the phone with her, coaching her through her problems, no matter how trivial they may seem, because the truth is, everyone deals with their problems in different ways; some people need to talk things out, and that’s when it’s my time to shine. Even when I’m tired and stressed out and in a bad mood, if I receive a text from a distressed or upset friend,  I scrounge up every last bit of motivation I have to ensure that I give them my full attention and my best advice.

Life Lessons from Me to You

1) The importance of being a mentor- As a mentor, you are given the chance to be an important part of someone’s life and be a positive, guiding force for them. People need mentors in so many different aspects of their life because people like to know they have someone looking out for them and someone willing to be patient enough to work with them.

2) The importance of keeping a positive attitude- There are going to be some tough times along the way, but as a mentor, it’s your job to keep morale up and spirits high. It’s easy to get discouraged when things aren’t going well, but you have to do what you can to put a positive spin on things!

Need any advice on mentoring? Here are some helpful tips and tricks! Also, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me!