Who Is Mentoring the Next Generation? (And Why It Matters Now More Than Ever)

Blog Who Is Mentoring the Next Generation

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“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” -- John C. Crosby.

Mentorship is not just offering advice, it is providing intentional guidance, exposure, correction and being a positive example. The world that we live in is changing so swiftly. We are on the cusp of some of the greatest inventions in the history of artificial intelligence, which has already started to impact the world that we now live in and is expected to continue to change the ways that we live, work and raise families. As a Middle School teacher and mom to young children, I find this notion both exciting and terrifying. I often wonder, are we doing enough to prepare our young people for the future that they will inherit?

Recently in a conversation with a group of teens between 12-14 years old, I asked the question, “What do you want to become in the future?” Many of the students were awestruck, they either hadn’t thought much about it, hadn’t been exposed to conversations about their future or responded with plans such as “braiding hair, driving Uber or playing sports”. In that moment, I understood clearly how unaware and unprepared they were for the future that is ahead of them. It begs the question, “Who is mentoring the next generation? Whose responsibility is it?”

According to Thomas (2026), as of 2024, about 42% of enterprise-scale companies have actively deployed AI in their business. Plus, 92% of companies plan to increase their investments in AI technology from 2025 to 2028. With the advent of AI technology, businesses have already been able to increase task automation with inventions such as the Keenon delivery robots acting as restaurant waiters, Waymo and Apollo Go operating autonomous driverless robotaxis and autonomous security robots like Knightscope’s K5 patrolling areas. Now, more than ever, our young people are in need of mentorship. Our future depends on it!

When I was growing up in the 90’s and early 2000’s, things were much different. We were told to become doctors, lawyers and multi-lingual speakers. Today, even those pathways are seemingly becoming irrelevant. How many times have you felt an ick coming on and went straight to ChatGPT to seek the remedy? I have. In fact, I recall a viral story that I read some time ago where a woman had a decade long illness that neurologists and radiologists among other specialties sought to explain with difficulty that was resolved in 30 seconds of the woman copying her entire medical history into ChatGPT (David, 2025). How many times have you sought legal advice from ChatGPT or used AI to communicate with someone who speaks an entirely different language?

Ding, Shang, et al (2025), stated the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the deployment of artificial intelligence. This impacted all generations and despite Generation X (1965-1980) reportedly experiencing high levels of anxiety from managing remote work while supervising their children’s online schooling, research indicates that the most affected group was Generation Z (1997-2012), who faced disruption of formal educational experiences, delayed entry into the workforce and significant gaps in social skill development.  

This correlates to my observations within the classroom today. The majority of my students demonstrate some sense of heightened social anxiety, with a few opting to revert to homeschooling due to this reason. They struggle with poor face-to-face communication and a reliance on digital interaction. My oldest, an 11-year-old, mimics some of these same qualities, uncertain of how to start conversations and build new friendships, preferring the solitude, safety, and ease of virtual reality.

Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath stated in the US. Senate hearing on January 2026 that Gen Z may be the first generation to show lower average intelligence scores than their parents, thus breaking the historical “Flynn Effect” of rising IQs. This observation is being linked by researchers to the improper use of digital technology. Gen Z’s heavy reliance on quick-scrolling, short-form content, and AI tools is believed to be hindering deep reading and analytical reasoning, thus resulting in drastically shortened attention spans and memory retention.

The responsibility of preparing our young people for the future that is fast approaching is ours-parents, grandparents, teachers, and those who came before them. We must decide to start having these important conversations about the future with our children. We have to do our part in ensuring that when it is time for them to become the adults in charge of leading the way forward, they are equipped with the mental fortitude, grit to sustain through difficulties, and the wisdom and flexibility to adapt and reinvent themselves as often as is necessary to meet the demands of a changing world. Ultimately, developing the social skills required to understand the power of human connection.

If we fail to mentor our young people, the world will. As a parent, I want my children to do better than I have done and achieve much greater success than I have attained. As a teacher, I want all of my students to thrive socially, academically and harness the skills that are necessary to become confident, resilient leaders for the future. This is why CNCE Consulting LLC, for which I am a co-owner, is so important to me. I believe in being the change that I want to see. Through CNCE Consulting, I have the opportunity to connect with young people in a meaningful and intentional way as I seek to do my part in inspiring and mentoring the next generation. As you go forward, I implore you to be more cognizant and intentional about engaging with our young people regarding their future. They are watching us, whether we realize it or not. Become a mentor, not just an observer.

For more insight youth mentorship, click here to check out our book “Developing Leadership Skills in Adolescence (10-19 years old)"

References

David, D. (2025). ChatGPT solved a 10-year problem no doctors could figure out. Medium.https://medium.com/utopian/chatgpt-solved-a-10-year-problem-no-doctors-could-figure-out-b45694e5a38a

Thomas, M. (2026). The future of artificial intelligence: What to expect. Built In.https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-future

Ding, X., Shang, B., et al. (2025). Impact of COVID-19 on generational mental health and technology use. (Humanities and Social Sciences Communications)

Horvath, J. C. (2026, January). Testimony on cognitive impacts of digital technology. U.S. Senate Hearing.