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Adults Who Care
NOTE: If you are in need of help now, we have provided many resources for you.
It often seems that we are alone, but we’re not. Help is there, no matter where you are or what your situation is. Here we will help you feel comfortable developing positive relationships with supportive adults, whether it’s someone to help you personally or to create positive change in your school or community.
Adults who care can be your parents, guardians, or other family members. But there are caring adults in other areas of your life as well. They can be at school, at your place of worship, or part of a community organization. They can be your teachers or other school staff. They can even be positive role models or a mentor that you look up to. Just remember that there are adults in your life that care about you and want to help you succeed.
"It is incumbent upon all of us to build communities with the educational opportunities and support systems in place to help our youth become successful adults." - Ruben Hinojosa
Reaching Out
Finding an adult who cares and can be trusted can be a relief. But how do you reach out to them when you need help? Below are some ways that you can reach out to them when you don’t know how.
Write a Letter
Write a letter explaining what is going on in your life. You can include how you think that they can help you out or you can just state that you need help. You can give them the letter in person, text it to them, or leave it in a safe spot for them to find.
Ask Them to Meet for Coffee or Lunch
Meeting in a public space where the pressure is not all on you can relieve some stress. This is also a great way to build a relationship, because you can each easily talk about your interests or stressors in life.
Ask Them if You Can Talk to Them About Something Private
There is nothing wrong about approaching them asking them if you can keep this conversation between the two of you. The adult wants the best for you, and they will try to work with you before anything else.
“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
Videos
Mentors and Role Models
Asking for Help
Articles
Mentors and Role Models
Asking for Help
Websites
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Since 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.