Beyond Academics: How Social Emotional Mentors Change Lives

Growing up isn’t easy, especially when our kids have struggles understanding their many changing emotions. Children who seem happy can feel consumed with negative emotions, holding them back from living full lives. Unfortunately, many parents can feel they have no one to turn to for help navigating this turbulent time of a child’s life. 

Here at CHADS Coalition, we are committed to making a positive difference. Our social-emotional mentor program connects a trained mentor with a student who needs support in navigating their emotions. We were privileged to meet Jamie and her daughter Sofia, and witness the remarkable progress in Sofia’s life after being paired with one of our mentors, Alyssa.  

 From Joy to Self-Hate: When Sofia Needed Help

Like many elementary school children, Sofia was a bubbly, fun child who excelled at school and had plenty of friends to play with. However, almost overnight, her attitude seemed to change for the worse.

“She would get angry over every single thing and throw tantrums. She would talk down on herself and say she hates herself or that everything was her fault,” said her mother, Jamie.

Sofia’s Mother became concerned by her new habits but weren’t sure what to do about them. Sofia said she began to feel anxious as her negative thoughts made her lose focus and slowly fall behind in school.

Jamie Discovered CHADS Coalition

Jamie, after discussing Sofia's struggles with a friend, was introduced to our organization. Upon reaching out to us, she shared the challenges Sofia faced at home and school. Recognizing the need for specialized support, we paired Sofia with Alyssa, a mentor skilled in emotional management. This partnership marked the beginning of Sofia's journey towards managing her emotions and improving her overall mental health.

 “Since Sofia started working with Alyssa, I’ve observed significant positive shifts in her. She now talks about her diverse range of feelings and recognizes that it's normal to experience multiple emotions simultaneously. This understanding has made her more forgiving of herself,” shared Jamie.

Sophia celebrating her birthday

A Relationship Built on Trust

As a mentor, Alyssa spent time getting to know Sofia and the emotions she felt and in time, developed a trusting relationship with her. Alyssa also helped Sofia develop new ways to think about her feelings and build resilience. This helped Sofia to learn new ways to express her emotions that let her control them, not vice versa.

 “We have been trying to explore what is satisfying about negative coping skills, like yelling at someone, and challenging ourselves to find a new way achieving that satisfaction, like yelling into a pillow instead,” said Alyssa. 

An self-confidence activity Sofia worked on with her mentor in which she wrote down things she loved about herself

Celebrating Sofia’s Big Turnaround Thanks to Mentoring

 Thanks to the mentoring she received, Sofia has made significant progress toward better managing her emotions. According to her teacher: 

 “I have noticed more confidence as well as self-control here in the classroom. Sofia is able to communicate to me more when she is feeling upset, and we are able to work through it. I have also noticed increased effort she puts into her work and during lesson discussions. I’m very proud of her."

A social-emotional mentor has a powerful impact on young lives and their families, serving as a reminder that hope and help are always available to any young adult facing emotional challenges.