Most of us who have been fortunate in our careers know one truth: we didn’t get here alone. Along the way, someone took the precious time to guide us, encourage us, and show us how to reach our potential. That is the quiet power of mentorship.
Mentors are easier to find than we think—many people in our community are willing to help if given the right opportunity. The challenge is connecting those willing mentors with the organizations and young people who need them most.
The Prosperity Task Force recognizes that Hidalgo County already has many groups doing meaningful mentoring work. Even high schools have honor students mentoring younger children, as my own granddaughter proudly told me. But the question before us is clear: how do we help organizations like United Way of South Texas, RGV LEAD, the Hidalgo County Community Service Agency, and our local Boys & Girls Clubs expand the reach of their mentoring programs?
The urgency is real.
The opportunities to build human capital in our region are enormous. And the cost of doing nothing is even greater.
Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez knows that too many young people fall into legal or personal trouble simply because they never had someone to show them the way. More than 130,000 people in Hidalgo County lack a high school education. Imagine the impact mentors could have if we connected them with the right organizations that already have established programs but need more hands, more hearts, and more role models.
Mentors have something invaluable to offer: experience. At no cost, they transfer knowledge that can change the direction of someone’s life. They care deeply about our community, and they want to help build a stronger future for all of us. And the relationships they form often last a lifetime.
I know this firsthand. Many of my former students still call me regularly asking for advice. That is the power of guidance—once a bridge is built, it stays strong.
What makes mentors unique is their ability to give unbiased, honest advice. They see potential quickly and can offer alternatives that a young person may never have considered. When I served as an Air Force recruiter—a mentor of sorts—many young people walked in wanting to be pilots. I never discouraged them. Instead, I’d explain that the Air Force was a great place to begin, but they might first need to join, build skills, and earn an education. Many of them did exactly that. A mentor doesn’t shut doors; a mentor shows the path to opening them.
All of us who have enjoyed successful careers want to help someone else get ahead. And those in vulnerable situations desperately need someone who understands them, someone who sees their worth and their potential.
Mentors can teach.
Mentees are willing to learn.
All we need is connection.
Imagine what could happen if our community united behind the organizations that already have mentoring programs in place. I see families thriving. I see young people living up to their God-given potential. I see more residents helping others rise. I see our regional economy expanding, providing a better quality of life for all.
Let’s each find an organization that needs mentoring support. Call me if you need help finding any organization that needs help.
Let’s stand together with the Prosperity Task Force to build more human capital.
Let’s shape a stronger Hidalgo County—one mentor, one mentee, one success story at a time.
Editor's Note: The above guest column was penned by Mario Reyna, leader of the Prosperity Task Force, a former dean of business, public safety, and technology at South Texas College, and a United States Air Force Captain, Retired. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author.
