Recently, professional mentor Eduardo welcomed Ryan and Eric* to the clubhouse after school with purpose. The pairing of the two boys was intentional, it was an invitation to try again after a month apart. The last time they’d been together, things had unraveled into arguing and hurt feelings, and both boys had decided they didn’t like each other at all. But Eduardo knew that growth doesn’t happen by avoiding hard moments, it happens by moving through them, safely and with support.

Eduardo chose an activity he knew would bring big emotions to the surface. The board game was simple but intense: toy hammers, plastic cubes, and a toy bear that toppled when the wrong move was made. Losing was inevitable, and so were strong reactions. Before the game began, Eduardo paused to set clear boundaries—pretend hitting could only happen if both boys agreed, and it had to be mutual. Both Ryan and Eric consented, practicing an early but important step in self-management: understanding boundaries and choice.

The game progressed, laughter mixed with tension, until Eric won. Overcome with excitement, he bonked Ryan on the head with the toy hammer. Just as Eduardo anticipated, emotions surged. Ryan yelled. Eric dissolved into tears and wanted to go home. The boys retreated to opposite sides of the clubhouse.

Instead of rushing to fix the moment, Eduardo leaned into the Friends of the Children model—meeting each child where they were, listening first, and helping them make sense of their emotions. He sat with Ryan and asked him to share what had happened. When Ryan began to bring up conflicts from the past, Eduardo gently redirected him to focus on the present. What happened today? Ryan was able to name it: being bonked on the head made him angry.

Next, Eduardo checked in with Eric, who shared that being yelled at made him sad. With calm guidance, Eduardo helped each boy reflect on the other’s feelings—an essential piece of self-management that includes recognizing emotions, regulating reactions, and understanding impact. When asked if they could imagine how the other felt, both boys nodded in understanding.

Eduardo then offered them a choice: would they like to apologize for how they made the other feel? Both agreed. The apologies were quiet and a little shaky. When Eduardo asked how it felt to say sorry, both boys admitted they were nervous. Eduardo reminded them that feeling nervous is okay—and that facing emotions, not avoiding them, is how we grow stronger.

Moments later, Ryan and Eric returned to playing together.

Stories like this are why National Mentoring Month matters. Professional mentors like Eduardo don’t just show up—they show up with intention, training, and a long-term commitment to walk alongside youth through moments both joyful and challenging. Through consistent, trusting relationships, professional mentoring helps young people build critical life skills like self-management, emotional regulation, and healthy communication.

For Eduardo, this was the work in action. Through intentional planning, patience, and trust, he created a space where youth could practice self-management—setting boundaries, naming emotions, repairing harm, and re-engaging after conflict. It wasn’t about avoiding big feelings, but learning how to handle them. And because of professional mentoring, these everyday moments add up to lasting impact—one relationship, one skill, and one brave conversation at a time.

*Youth names changed to protect privacy.