Beginning in 2002, January has been National Mentoring Month. President George W Bush designated this time of year to encouraging volunteers to mentor the nation’s youth. The project was spearheaded by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

There are different resources and organization dedicated to help match mentors to mentees. If you’re a professional who would like to mentor a college student, studentmentor.org is a good place to start. They believe through sharing  professional knowledge with a student, you will not only help the student, you’ll improve your own caching, communication and leadership skills.

Before you begin, decide what you want to share with your student and how much time you’re willing to invest, the website suggests.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is an excellent resource to help you mentor young students, who they refer to as “Littles.” They stress the importance of emphasizing education with your Littles, and they encourage Bigs to help them with their classroom and study habits. Plus, in honor of National Mentoring Month, the Big Brothers Big Sisters has devoted a portion of their site as a forum for BBBSs to share ideas about how to make the most of your time spent with your young mentees.

Various studies have proven that those who give of themselves through volunteering are happier and more satisfied with their personal lives, just ask anyone who works in a thrift store, soup kitchen, or the local Salvation Army or Women and Children’s Shelter, and they’ll tell you that, indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive.