Many Tennessee students are the first in their families to pursue a post-secondary credential. They are capable and motivated. What they often lack is someone who has already navigated the process and can tell them what comes next.

Mentors fill that gap. A mentor is not a tutor, a counselor or a financial aid expert. You are a steady adult voice who keeps students aware of deadlines, asks direct questions and reminds them that someone is paying attention.

Mentoring also connects you to the future of your own community. Every student who earns a credential strengthens Tennessee's workforce and the local economy where you live and work.

You do not need a background in education. tnAchieves offers two ways to mentor (Access and Workforce), and both come with intentional training, a workbook, on-demand training webinars and staff support — so you always know what to say and when to say it.

To become a tnAchieves mentor, you need to be 21 or older, pass a background check and want to see students succeed. That is it.

You do not need a college degree. You do not need a background in education or counseling. You do not need to have followed a traditional path yourself — mentors who took a winding route to their career are often the most useful voice a student can hear.

You also do not need to live in Tennessee. Nearly all mentoring happens by text and email, so mentors can support Tennessee students from anywhere.

What matters is consistency. Students benefit most from a mentor who checks in every two weeks and keeps checking in, even when a reply takes a few days.

Mentors come from every kind of work: business owners, retirees, tradespeople, public servants, college graduates and people who never finished a degree. tnAchieves covers the cost of the background check.

Access Mentors support high school seniors during the year they transition from high school to college.

Your focus is organization, accountability and timely completion. You will:

• Help students understand required TN Promise and college access milestones

• Encourage steady progress, and early completion when possible

• Support students as they choose a college and a major that fit their goals

• Point students toward the right resources for FAFSA, applications and campus questions

• Recognize milestones as students complete them

• Track student progress and concerns in the tnAchieves Mentor Portal

Communication: At least once every two weeks. You lead the outreach and the follow-up. Text messaging is encouraged when it works for the student.

Time commitment: One hour month / 12 hours per year

This is the right fit if you want to help students get to college.

Workforce Mentors support students who are finishing a post-secondary credential and preparing to enter the workforce.

Your focus is career readiness and professional skill development. You will:

• Help students clarify career interests and long-term goals

• Explore industries, roles, wage potential and local employers together

• Support resume creation and refinement

• Conduct mock interviews and give constructive feedback

• Coach students on professional communication and follow-up

• Help students identify job shadowing or networking opportunities when appropriate

• Report progress and challenges in the tnAchieves Mentor Portal

Communication: At least every two weeks, initiated and sustained by you. Consistency matters most here — students in their final terms are busy, and responses are sometimes delayed.

Time commitment: One hour per month / 12 hours per year

This is the right fit if you want to help students get from college to a career.

1. Apply.Complete the mentor application. It takes about 3 minutes. You will indicate whether you are interested in Access mentoring, Workforce mentoring or either.

2. Clear a background check. tnAchieves covers the cost and handles the process.

3. Complete training. Training details for your specific mentor program will be provided via email and text message. Training is completed virtually.

4. Get matched. tnAchieves connects you with students, and your first outreach begins in January 2027.

Apply by November 20, 2026 to be matched with students for the 2027 class.

Questions first? Baylor Atkins, our Director of Mentors, is glad to help. Email baylor@tnachieves.org.

Apply to Mentor