Raising Hope
A CONVERSATION WITH DR. TOM OSBORNE
Tom Osborne is a college football legend, but Nebraskans know that his contributions extend far past the field bearing his name. Beyond thousands of athletes, Dr. Osborne has influenced tens of thousands of young people through TeamMates Mentoring Program, co-founded in 1991 with his wife, Nancy.
The result is increased hope. 89% of TeamMates youth report higher levels of hope because of their TeamMate. The cumulative effect of that hope is Dr. Osborne’s greatest gift to the community.
From 22 matches between Husker football players and LPS middle-schoolers, to thousands of matches in over 100 Nebraska districts and four other states, TeamMates is now a nationally recognized in-school mentoring program. Lincoln’s chapter served nearly 1,250 youth last school year.
Q: Dr. Osborne, you are a TeamMates mentor. I hear you’ll be re-matched this fall?
Tom: Yeah. One of the young guys I’ve mentored for years graduated. I’ll stay with him as a post-secondary mentor, but I’d like to start with a young person, a high school sophomore. I can make another three years. [Laughs]
Q: Why do you continue mentoring?
Tom: Sometimes when we get older, we think we’ll kick back. Nothing’s wrong with that, but you can lose your purpose. If you can inject a sense of doing something significant for another, it helps.
Some of the most effective mentors we have are older people like me. I’m 85. We have life experience; we’ve been there, done that. We need all types of mentors. There are hundreds of Lincoln students waiting for a TeamMate.
Q: Why are mentors especially needed now?
Tom: It’s a difficult time to be a young person, particularly these last two years. Kids have been disconnected from support and social interaction. Many have lost ground emotionally and academically. Having an unconditional adult is really important, probably more now than ever. TeamMates’ graduation rates are consistently very high. Most importantly, our mentees are hopeful about their futures. Hope is the greatest single indicator of living a constructive, successful life.
Q: What do you think mentors gain?
Tom: Many of the most important things we do don’t hit the front page. Purpose and meaning come from serving. When you mentor, you do something for somebody you have no obligation to serve. You give them hope. There is a ripple effect because you’ll make the life of their children better and their children’s children better. As far as I know, that’s the best way to change the culture.
Learn more about mentoring at LincolnTeamMates.org.