Matthew Mount and the magic of mentorship

In a rapidly changing world, young adults face a lot of different pressures. Director of Army Instruction for Indianapolis Public Schools Lt. Col. Matthew Mount highlights the transformative effect mentorship can have. Mount, who also served as the Public Information Officer for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department before his current role, pointed out how often he encountered those lacking good role models. “I saw too many instances of people who would end up in jail because they lacked the proper mentorship, leadership or parenting that they really needed,” Mount said. Last month, Mount attended the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) at Camp Atterbury. With over 200 participants, it was the largest class in the last five years. “I had never seen so many young adults who were glad to be without their cell phones for a while,” Mount said. African American female student in casualwear sitting by desk with military equipment and looking at camera while making lecture notes. (Photo/Getty Images) He pointed out how mentorship extends beyond advice; it fosters relationships grounded in trust, empathy and intertwined experiences. For high school students in JROTC, mentors like Mount play a pivotal role in academic achievement, career preparation and personal development....