A college senior and an eighth-grade student sit side by side in the shade of an oak tree, sipping smoothies and giggling, chatting about everything from geometry to boys. Across the country, a college senior and freshman are engaged in a similar conversation while lounging on faded couches in a dorm's recreation room. Both of these college students are taking part in a mentoring program, where college mentors nationwide are making positive differences in young students' lives while enriching their own.

Inspired by her relationship with her sister, Kelly Zientek, a St. Bonaventure University (SBU, St. Bonaventure, NY) senior, started a mentoring program at her university. "Lydia was 15, and we had been talking a lot about her interaction with my mom, boy problems, and school," says Kelly. "I was someone she could confide in because I understood where she was coming from. I thought it would be beneficial to have a program that would provide that same kind of relationship for less fortunate students."

Kelly pitched her idea to a committee, and worked with faculty member Dr. Kimberly Young to fund the Bona Sisters program through a subgrant from the Journey Project, an SBU initiative funded by almost $2 million from the Lilly Endowment. The Bona Sisters program consists of 15 "big sisters" who meet regularly with their "little sisters" to talk, laugh, and create a bond that forges an important support system with people outside their home and school.

An Elon University (Elon, NC) mentoring program, Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent (SMART), caters to a different age group close to home. The mentees are incoming freshmen. Elon senior Allison Grimes (pictured above) became involved with the program to meet and help incoming freshmen. "This is a great way to help with their transition from high school to college, specifically for minority freshmen," Allison explains. The program aims to increase the retention rate among minority students while recognizing their scholastic achievements. Allison believes the program far surpasses these goals.

According to an impact study by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, mentored students are 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol, 53 percent less likely to skip school, and 37 percent less likely to skip a class than students not mentored. "As a psychologist, I counseled and worked with many who have benefited from programs such as this," Dr. Young says.

"The student mentors really have a tremendous impact on children's emotional development, especially among those growing up in highly unstable environments."

A good student mentor must be willing to listen and be open--minded. "Due to the fact that many of these younger girls are from less--than--desirable home situations, it is important to not be dismissive or judgmental," Kelly emphasizes. "Mentors need to be able to find a way to connect to their little sisters."

Both Kelly and Allison agree that the mentoring process goes beyond simply helping their assigned students - it has positive effects on both parties. Allison says that program activities can relieve just as much stress for the mentors as it can for the younger students. Dr. Young facilitates Bona Sisters reflection sessions so that the mentors can learn from and support each other throughout the experience. "Ultimately, the big sisters are able to learn from the entire process of sharing with their little sisters and with each other through reflection sessions," says Dr. Young. Kelly adds that mentoring helps her focus on others and less on herself.

"In college, you tend to get swept up in your own world," she says. "You get wrapped up in all the work you have to do, how important everything in your life seems right then... By stepping away from it and helping someone else, you can forget your own problems."