National Mentoring Month: Shared Experience, Real Support

National Mentoring Month is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of connection within the spinal cord injury community. Life with SCI often comes with challenges that are hard to explain to people who haven’t lived it. Whether you’re newly injured or further along in your journey, it’s normal to have questions, doubts, and moments where you just want to talk to someone who truly understands. That shared experience can make a powerful difference.

A mentor offers support grounded in real life, not theory. For people with SCI, mentors can help talk through everyday adjustments, share what helped them along the way, and offer reassurance during difficult moments. Sometimes the most valuable part of mentoring is knowing you’re not alone and that others have faced similar challenges. A mentor isn’t there to “fix” anything — they’re there to listen, relate, and support growth at your own pace.

At NorCalSCI, peer mentoring is an important part of how we support our community. We have mentors with lived experience who are ready to connect and share their knowledge and encouragement. If you’re interested in finding a mentor, you can learn more about our Peer Mentor Program and how to get connected by visiting https://norcalsci.org/peer-mentors. National Mentoring Month is a meaningful time to reach out and take that step toward connection, confidence, and community.