By Maksim Grinbgerg
Some of the most meaningful relationships in my life have been ones where I got to walk alongside someone younger — not as an authority handing down rules, but as someone a few steps ahead, willing to share what I’d learned and, more importantly, willing to believe in them.
Mentorship is one of the highest-leverage things any of us can do for a community. A young person with even one adult who genuinely invests in them — who shows up to their milestones, takes their problems seriously, and holds a vision for who they could become — is a fundamentally different young person than one without. That single relationship can change the entire trajectory of a life.
In New York, where so many kids are navigating real pressures with too little support, mentorship fills a gap that no program alone can. Programs provide structure; mentors provide belief. And belief, it turns out, is often the missing ingredient.
I’ve been fortunate to play that role for some young people in my life, and I take it seriously. Being trusted with someone’s growth — being asked, in effect, to help shape who they become — is one of the great honors a person can be given. It asks for patience and presence, and it gives back more than you put in.
My hope for New York is that more adults step into this. You don’t need credentials or wealth to mentor. You need consistency, honesty, and a real belief that the young person in front of you is capable of more than they currently see in themselves. That belief, offered steadily over years, is one of the most powerful gifts a community can give its next generation.