Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Students:

Q: What do I need to be eligible for this program?

A. The program is open to all CCHS sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You need to have a demonstrated motivation and interest in learning about some of the personal qualities that have helped others to be successful. You do not need to have a specific career interest, or grades above a certain level, to enter the program.

Q: Who will my mentor be?

A: We will assign you a mentor based largely on the answers to your questions on the application.  Unfortunately, due to scheduling and resource limitations, we may not be able to accommodate all requests.  We will notify you regarding your mentor assignment in January.

Q: I don’t really excel in any of my classes.  Can I participate in the program anyway?

A: Yes!  We are offering this program to students who are interested and motivated to learn and who agree to participate in all of the sessions.

Q: I’m really excited about _____.  Will I get a mentor who can talk to me about that?

A: We will make every effort to accommodate requests to match students with a mentor in a specific area; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet all of those requests. Some of the previous years' students thrived when assigned to a mentor from a field unrelated to their specific career interests.

Q: Will I meet with my mentor individually?

A: You will be assigned to an individual mentor and will meet with your mentor one-on-one, unless your mentor arranges for others to join your meeting.

Q: What will I talk about with my mentor?

A: We have created a Student Question Outline for you to use if you find it helpful. This outline contains a list of topics and questions that you can talk about with your mentor. More than likely, once you get started, there will be plenty to talk about.  A lot of it is up to the questions and curiosity that YOU bring to the meetings: the more questions that you ask, the more fruitful the learning experience will be for you.

Q: What if I don’t like my mentor?

A: We ask that students work with their assigned mentors to develop a mutually agreeable outline for discussion, and to create a good mentor/student relationship. If you have any problems or concerns during the program, please contact Mr. Wells (swells@concordcarlisle.org).

Q: How will I get to my mentor meetings?

A: If your meetings are off-campus, you will need to arrange your own transportation.

Q: What do I need to bring with me?

A: It may be helpful to print and bring the Student Question Outline, and perhaps a means of taking notes. Other than that, just bring your interest and attention. There is a lot to learn!

Q: Can I record the sessions?

A: In order to be allowed to record your sessions, you must ask your mentor's permission.  Cell phone use during sessions, for calls or texting, will not be permitted during mentor meetings, as a common courtesy. The use of your computer for taking notes will be at the discretion of your mentor.  Make sure you ask or permission before you do.

Q: What will I get for participating in this program?

A: You will receive academic credit (1.25 credits) upon successful completion of the program.  This will appear on your transcript after the program ends.  You will also be able to put this experience on your college and job applications.

Q: Will I get a grade?

A: If you meet all of the program requirements and you chose to participate for academic credit, you will be given a Pass ("P") for a grade on your transcript. If you fail to meet all of the program requirements, you will be given a Fail ("F") for a grade on your transcript.

Q: Do I have to miss class at CCHS in order to participate?

No. Mentor meetings will generally take place outside of school hours, at a time when you arrange them with your mentor that is mutually convenient, usually during the school week.  Students are not permitted to miss classes for their participation in the CCCC.

Q: Does the program have a Facebook page?

A: Yes, you can visit our Facebook page by clicking here.

FAQs for Mentors

Q: What do I need to become a mentor?

A: We are looking for adult mentors, either active or retired, with some combination of professional and life experiences to share with high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who will soon be pursuing post-secondary education and career opportunities beyond.

You will also need a Criminal Offender Record Inquiry (CORI) review to be completed.  This takes only about 10 minutes and is done at the main office at CCHS).

Q: What do I get out of my participation in this program?

A: We do not offer any formal compensation; nevertheless, there are many reasons to participate:

1. You will get to know one of today’s high school students from a cross-section of the student body at CCHS – each student with a unique story, but all of whom have made a serious commitment to the program.  Getting to know any of these students has the capacity enhance your life in immeasurable ways.

2. You will help guide a student on a path to success. By talking about and sharing what worked (and didn’t work) in your own personal and professional life, and by answering students’ questions about what it takes to succeed and achieve career satisfaction, you are offering these students a unique opportunity that they simply cannot get from classroom instruction alone.

3. Your involvement in CCCC will connect you with other people and resources at CCHS and other professionals within the Concord-Carlisle community, which may be a significant and personally rewarding opportunity. You may even discover a new interest as a result of your mentoring experience!

Q: Will I be matched up with an individual student or a group?

A: Mentors will be paired up with an individual student.  You and your mentee will get to know each other really well during the time you work together, and hopefully the relationship will last beyond just the time spent in the program.

Q: How will I know what to talk about with the students?

A: We will provide you with a Possible Discussion Topics outline with suggestions that you can use to guide you in developing topic areas to cover on a session-by-session basis; within each topic we offer a list of questions and possible discussion points that you can use to keep the conversation moving. We provide these to you as suggested guidelines only; you can feel free to come up with your own agenda of topics that you intend to cover, in consultation with the student.

Q: Where and when will we meet?

A:  The mentor and student will create the schedule of meeting times and will meet either at the mentor’s place of business or at CCHS.  Meetings will likely be held from 3:00 – 5:00 PM on school days; however, mentors and students with more flexible schedules are free to meet at other times. Students with back-to-back free periods can use that time to meet with their mentor (factoring in transportation time and meeting time).  Students are not permitted to miss class to meet with their mentors.

Q: How do I know which student I will be mentoring?

A: We will send you information about your student in the weeks before the program.  We are asking the students to make contact the first contact with you.  If you haven't heard from your student after a week or so of learning your match, we ask that you let Steve Wells (swells@concordcarlisle.org) know, so that he can follow up with the student.

Q: What if I have a problem or issue with a student that need to be addressed?

A: Please contact Steve Wells (swells@concordcarlisle.org) if you have any problems or concerns with a student or with any other aspect of the program.

Q: Does the program have a Facebook page?

A: Yes, you can visit our Facebook page by clicking here.