As a Health Mentor, it’s hard to define one single “biggest achievement.” Every young person I work with is on their own unique journey, and for some, the smallest step forward is a huge milestone. Others might have goals that are further off in the distance, requiring more time, patience, and perseverance. I’ve come to realise that achievement in this role isn’t about grand outcomes – it’s about meaningful progress, however that looks for each individual.
Even though I’ve only been in this role for a short time and have worked with a limited number of young people so far, one experience already stands out to me.
I was working with a young person who told me they had a “long-term” goal – they wanted to work in care or at a nursery. At first, it seemed like a distant dream, something they weren’t sure how to reach. But through our mentoring sessions, we began exploring possibilities together. We looked at job sectors, attended a careers fair, and talked through what steps might be needed to get there.
Then we found it – a training course that offered both functional skills and the qualifications needed to start working toward that goal. Suddenly, what had once felt so far away became something real and achievable. I’ll never forget the happiness on their face when they realised it was possible – not years from now, but soon.
That shift changed everything. Our sessions became more focused and purposeful. We weren’t just talking about the future in abstract terms anymore – we were working towards it, step by step.
For me, that moment was a powerful reminder of why I do this work. It’s not just about guiding someone – it’s about walking beside them as they discover what they’re capable of. And sometimes, helping someone believe they can achieve something sooner than they thought is the biggest achievement of all.
