by Tom Baker, Contributing Writer

As Republican leaders we must make a point to mentor others both within our party and through civic involvements.

In my role as state chairman of the PA Young Republicans, it was always inspiring to work with recent college graduates and young professionals who established and advanced YR clubs and Republican organi- zations in their communities.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with these young leaders and now look forward to seeing the incredible work that they will do for our Common- wealth and our party in the coming years. I certainly learned a great deal from them and have had an amazing experience serving as a mentor and also have been guided by several amazing leaders within our party. No matter what our age is, there are always people looking up to us.

If you are a senior party member there are Young Republicans following your guidance. If you are a Young Republican there are College Republicans who follow your lead. And if you are a college Re- publican there are teenage Republicans who observe the steps you take.

This type of role modeling is on a continuous cycle and it is vital that we help out those who are in the seats that we formally sat in.

Consider your own experiences in the Republican Party. Who has helped mold and guide you in your journey thus far? What types of things have they done to assist you through your political journey? Make

a point to thank these people regularly for the extra steps they have taken and the additional efforts they have made to help you grow. They have decided to invest in you with their time and likely their money because they see something special in you.

Generally, their only hope is that you will have a positive experience and help move the party forward by becoming a positive conservative candidate or volunteer. They are not expecting anything in return but that simple thank you is always appreciated!

It is important to also look within your local clubs, organizations, and committees to see who would benefit from your guidance.

Have you come into contact with someone who seems to have a lot of potential but could use some assistance? Make a point to reach out to these future leaders and find specific ways to aid their develop- ment. Invite them out to a phone bank or literature drop with you. Take them with you to a reception or dinner and introduce them to your colleagues. Buy them coffee or lunch and discuss ways that they can help others and get more involved.

Even though they will not always initiate these relationships, it does not make it any less important to become a positive mentor in their lives. Think of yourself as a coach, guidance counselor, or even older sibling in their political journey. Having both men- tors and mentees is a great way to stay focused and motivated while also aiding and inspiring others.

These same mentoring principles hold true in your civic life where it is just as crucial to give back and assist others.

Being a mentor is often one of the most enjoyable types of ways to do service work. I even had a mentor that I work with in my professional life at Big Broth- ers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh tell me recently that he feels like he is “cheating” with his efforts being considered community service because being a Big Brother is so much fun.

Being a mentor within your church or religious insti- tution is also a nice way to enrich the lives of young people. I married into an amazing family and am very proud of my in-laws Doug and Jan Johnson. Doug is the president of church council and Jan serves as the superintendent of Sunday school. They give back in many ways and also make a point to help and mentor young people.

It is also a good exercise to consider what you were involved with when you were younger and become a volunteer leader in these organizations. If you loved being a Boy Scout, consider becoming a troop leader. If you played sports, consider becoming a coach.

Neither of my parents were particularly athletic but both were terrific coaches.

Because of this, I would also advise you to consider giving back to programs and groups that you did not have much experience with at a younger age.

Just because you didn’t play an instrument in school doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways that you could help your child’s marching band. Another benefit of being involved in programs, clubs, and teams is that it shows others that Republicans do genuinely care about others and that we are the party of service.

There are so many young people out there, within your community that could benefit from your guid- ance. Make a point to get out there and start assisting and molding them into leaders very soon.