Mentorships pair gifted high school students with experienced adults or older peers who guide learning, support goals, and open doors to new opportunities. Mentors can be teachers, professionals, or college students who help students navigate complex topics or careers. Mentors in the arts and academics can also work with younger students, though I’ve seen that mostly occur through school counseling career exploration programs.
Mentorship often begins with a shared interest. A student passionate about engineering might be matched with a local engineer who offers regular guidance, project feedback, and industry insight. Similarly, a budding writer could work with an author mentor to refine craft and submit work to contests or publications.
Schools can formalize mentorship programs through partnerships with universities and community organizations. These programs benefit gifted learners by introducing them to advanced content, research opportunities, and real-world expectations.
In the Tidewater region of Virginia, the Governor’s School for Science and Technology requires all seniors at the school to participate in a self-selected mentorship. The gifted and advanced students choose their interest area, get matched with a local professor or practitioner in that field, then develop a year-long research project under the guidance of their mentor. It is a powerful capstone project for the students who attend the half-day program.
Mentorships enhance academic confidence and support social-emotional development by providing a consistent, supportive adult figure invested in the student’s intellectual growth. What types of mentorships for gifted and advanced students have you seen in your schools? Please share them in the comments below. ~Ann
Teaching for Talent 