During this Women’s History Month, there’s an urgent challenge facing our community: girls’ confidence starts to dip by age 8, falling by 30% – lower than their male peers.
The good news is that the research shows mentorship acts as a critical protective factor, equipping young women with mental and emotional resilience needed to thrive. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area, we see this transformation every day.
Here are four ways a mentor instills life-changing confidence in young girls.
1. Reframing Failure into a Growth Mindset
Self-doubt is often the biggest hurdle to a young person’s success. A mentor’s role isn’t to necessarily prevent a Little from failing, but to change how they perceive failure. By providing consistent emotional support and positive reinforcement, mentors can help youth move from the fixed mindset to a growth mindset. This shift allows Littles to transform self-doubt into self-assurance, unlocking their ability to pursue goals with resilience and courage.
2. Boosting Academic Agency
Confidence in the classroom is a specific, vital aspect of a child’s overall self-esteem. While self-esteem is complex, studies show that mentoring has a statistically significant positive impact on an adolescent’s perception of their academic abilities. When a Little believes they’re capable of succeeding in school, that confidence ripples out into every other area of life, leading to better prospects for higher education and professional success.
3. Providing a “Safe Harbor” for Mental Health
The Bay Area can be a high-pressure environment. For a girl navigating social media pressures and “opportunity deserts,” a mentor provides a stable, caring relationship with an adult that is uniquely suited to developing self-esteem. This close relationship provides the empathy and care necessary for a young person to learn to trust themselves. By fostering this bond, mentors help encourage Littles through negative outcomes associated with low self-esteem, such as poor mental-health and social isolation.
4. Expanding the Horizon of What’s Possible
Confidence is often born from exposure. Our Bigs can introduce Littles to new environments, from the corporate offices of San Francisco to tech hubs in Silicon Valley, that they might not otherwise experience. This builds the ‘social capital’ necessary for confidence. According to the 2025 Economic impact Research Report, mentored youth (Littles) are 20% more likely to enroll in college and experience 15% higher income between ages 20 and 25. By seeing themselves in these spaces, Littles realize their potential is limitless.
The Urgency of Now
Confidence is a prerequisite for a successful life. A mentoring relationship only works when it is consistent and enduring. You can help a young woman improve her confidence just by being there for her.
Looking to volunteer? Start your journey by signing up to be a mentor today.
Need extra support for your child? Enroll them in our program here.
Want to make a gift? Donate to our program.