Whether you are a talk show mogul like Oprah Winfrey or Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the path to success is paved with support and guidance.

While Maya Angelou mentored Winfrey on finding the key to living a happy life and empathy, Zuckerberg was learning the art of business from Steve Jobs.

Success can stem from a number of things including hard work, connections, and the right attitude. However, an often forgotten asset is having the right mentor; to guide students on the right path and help aspirinng them to progress in their life career.

Mentoring almost instantly assures young people that they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges. Research confirms that mentoring can have powerful, positive effects on young people across academic, professional and personal situations.

Yet, ironically, one in three young people will grow up without any support, role model or mentor in life. Mentoring can establish a learning relationship with young students and adults and can help boost skills and accomplish goals, opening the doors to countless learning opportunities and individual growth. Here are three benefits of having a mentor:

Staying focused and on track

As a young adult, it is often easy to get distracted. Having a mentor can help students stay focused.  A mentor can eliminate unnecessary distractions, help maintain person growth and re-engage the mentee on their path to success.

Personal development and career progression

Young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.   Mentors often deliver information on what matters the most to their mentees and can identify what factors encourage and what factors work against their mentee.

Support System

As the song goes, ‘I get by with a little help of my friends’, a support system boosts well-being and facilitates a robust life for students and young adults. Mentors play a critical role in being a mentee’s cheerleader and promote a positive outlook required to achieve set goals.

As a student, it is important to select a mentor whose achievements reflect similar goals. Mentors must be experienced and credible, and must also have time to dedicate and understand their mentee’s personality well enough to guide them on the best path possible to reach their goals.

Mentors also make great contacts for future reference. When applying for a job in the same field you were mentored in, accountability on behalf of your mentor can do wonders. They are best at identifying your strengths and can elaborate on your performance in learning the tools of the trade. When you find a mentor, ask a lot of questions. Ask the crucial 4 W’s and 1 H (What, When, Why, Where and How) before embarking on a project. Be a keen observer during mentoring sessions. And most importantly, make the best out of this opportunity.