Smith has been matched with the same mentor through the CU One-to-One Mentor Program for 10 years, beginning in elementary school and continuing through his senior year of high school. The program pairs students with adult mentors who meet with them weekly during the school day, offering consistency, guidance and support.

“Having the same mentor for 10 years showed me what consistency really looks like,” Smith said. “It’s someone who kept showing up for me, no matter what was going on.”

To hear the entire interview, click here: Stream episode Focus – CU 1to1 Mentor Program by Illini Media Group podcast | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

Smith said the relationship grew naturally over time, becoming especially important during difficult moments in his life.

“He wasn’t just there for school stuff — he was there when real life happened,” Smith said. “At some point, he stopped feeling like just a mentor and started feeling like family.”

That steady presence, Smith said, helped shape how he approaches challenges and relationships.

“He helped me learn which battles are worth fighting and how to stand up for myself and others,” Smith said. “Knowing someone believed in me for that long gave me confidence in who I am and who I want to become.”

The CU One-to-One Mentor Program serves students across Champaign-Urbana, matching mentors and mentees as early as elementary school and encouraging relationships to continue through graduation. At Champaign Central High School alone, more than 50 mentors meet weekly with students.

Christy Levitan, mentor coordinator at Champaign Central High School, said long-term consistency is the foundation of the program’s success.

“One consistent, caring adult can completely change a student’s experience in school,” Levitan said. “We see relationships that start in elementary school and grow into true friendships by the time students graduate.”

Levitan said mentors typically spend less than an hour a week with students, but the impact often reaches far beyond that time.

“It’s only about an hour a week, but the impact lasts far beyond that,” she said. “Mentors often tell us they didn’t expect to be changed as much as they were by the relationship.”

According to Levitan, students who participate in the program often show improved attendance, stronger engagement in school and greater confidence.

“When students know someone is showing up just for them, it improves attendance, engagement and confidence,” she said. “Mentorship isn’t about fixing problems — it’s about being present and building trust over time.”

As Smith prepares for graduation and plans to pursue a career in education, he said the mentorship has influenced how he hopes to give back.

“I want to be that person for someone else one day,” Smith said. “If I can show up for a kid the way my mentor showed up for me, that would mean everything.”

The CU One-to-One Mentor Program continues to seek adult volunteers willing to commit an hour a week to support students, reinforcing the belief that lasting change often begins with a single, consistent relationship.