The Original Mentor: Why An Ancient Idea Still Changes Young Lives Today

You’ve probably heard of the new film adaptation of The Odyssey, one of the biggest box-office hits of the summer from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. You might also be asking what that has to do with us here at Goal 17. Well, we didn’t star in the movie, but what we do does feature – in a way.

If you’re unaware, The Odyssey is an ancient piece of Greek literature written by Homer around 2,700 to 2,800 years ago. Of the many characters within, one has shaped the way we talk about supporting others to this day, nearly three millennia later – his name is Mentor.

Who was Mentor?

In The Odyssey, Mentor is an old friend of Odysseus, the main character who spends most of the tale trying to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Mentor is left in charge of Odysseus’s household and his son Telemachus while Odysseus is away. When Telemachus is old enough to go searching for news of his missing father, it's the goddess Athena, disguised as Mentor, who appears at his side. Crucially, Athena doesn't make the journey for Telemachus and she doesn't fight his battles. She simply offers counsel, courage and a steady presence at exactly the moment he needs to step into the grand future of his own life. Sound familiar?

So, that's where the word mentor originally comes from. For most of the time since then, though, it remained a proper noun. Mentor only became the common word we use today thanks to The Adventures of Telemachus, a 1699 novel by the French archbishop, theologian, poet and author François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon (more commonly known as just François Fénelon). The book's plot was set during The Odyssey, telling stories of Telemachus and Mentor, who this time is Minerva, the Roman equivalent to the Greek Athena. While set in ancient times, the novel was recognised as a scathing criticism of French king Louis XIV.

The book was popular and made its way across Europe, and by the middle of the 18^th century, "mentor" had entered the English language as a general term for a trusted guide or adviser, someone who walks alongside another person's growth rather than directing it from above. The Oxford English Dictionary’s earliest example of the word’s use is from 1750, in a letter by Philip Stanhope, politician and diplomatist.

It can seem a modern idea for a story this old: that one person, showing up at the right moment and simply offering advice, can change the entire trajectory of a young life. However, we would argue the opposite – as we can see, the power of mentoring is nothing new. To help one another grow is simple human nature.

Why an old story still matters

It's worth reflecting on what Mentor/Athena actually does in the text. Mentor offers Telemachus perspective, practical advice and belief in his ability to act, at moments when he feels powerless and uncertain. Rather than coming to the rescue, Mentor supports Telemachus to find his own way forward.

That distinction sits at the heart of what mentoring means for us at Goal 17. Our work with care-experienced young people is built on the same principle Homer demonstrated nearly three millennia ago: young people navigating difficult, uncertain circumstances don't need someone to live their life and make their decisions for them. They need a consistent, trusted adult who believes in them and helps them find their own path into the future.

Helping others to help themselves

Our recent evidence report, What Works in Supportive Relationships, drew on more than two years and 13,800 mentoring interactions, and shows the positive effect that a single adult showing consistency, trust, and support can have. Over half of the young people in the report started the programme as “NEET” (not in education, employment or training). At the time of the report’s publication, 69% of those classified as “NEET” had progressed to be in, or clearly on a pathway to, education, employment or training.

A very old idea, never out of date

Odysseus may get the statues and the headline billing, but there’s no doubt to us that Mentor (or at least a god pretending to be him) is the one who has had the biggest, longest-lasting effect on our society. Nearly 3,000 years later, the work our volunteer mentors do every day proves that.

Perhaps you like the idea of being a mentor yourself, or you know someone who may. We provide university-certified training and 24/7 support, and many of our programmes require just a couple of hours of mentoring a month – we've seen time and again the positive effect it can have. We urge you to share this with anyone who may find it interesting, and if you or they would like to learn more, please head over to our volunteering page. Here’s to the next 3,000 years!