Families and young adults in New Orleans can work with a Blackburn mentor by video. Our team is in Los Angeles, and clients Uptown, in the Garden District, in Metairie and across the lake on the Northshore meet a dedicated mentor online every week, scheduled in Central time. We work with high school students with a parent involved, college students in the city, and young adults building a life here or deciding to leave.
A city with its own calendar
New Orleans runs on a calendar the rest of the country does not share. Carnival season builds from January to Mardi Gras, festival season fills the spring, summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June through November. Each of these affects school, work and family life.
For a student, Carnival can mean parades, parties and late nights in the middle of the spring semester. For a young adult, the festival calendar can make the year feel like one long weekend. None of that is a problem in itself. It does make a steady weekly routine more valuable.
How a mentor works with the rhythm, not against it
- Plan around the big dates in advance, so a parade week does not become a missed-assignment week.
- Keep sessions going by video when storms, evacuations or travel disrupt normal life.
- Use quieter stretches, like late summer, to build habits for the busier months.
- Check in by text between sessions when the calendar gets full.
Families and independent schools
New Orleans has a large independent and parochial school tradition, and many families have a long history with a particular school. Parents tend to reach out when a teenager is capable but unfocused, when the social side of high school is crowding out everything else, or when senior year arrives without a plan. Our page on the senior year slump may be useful.
The parent joins the intro call, helps agree the goals and receives regular progress updates. The sessions themselves are between the student and the mentor.
College students and young adults
Thousands of students come to colleges and universities in New Orleans from all over the country, and the city can be a lot to manage alongside a full course load. Mentors help with time management, routines and keeping the semester on track. For young adults who grew up here or stayed after college, common goals include a steadier career path, money management and deciding whether the future is in New Orleans or elsewhere.
Staying, leaving and coming back
New Orleans has a strong pull. Many people who grow up here stay close to family, and many who leave for college come back. For a young adult, that can be a source of support or a reason to put off decisions. A mentor helps make the choice deliberately: what a career here looks like, what it would take to move, and what the next three months should include either way. Some young adults decide to stay and build something here; others plan a move. Both go better with a plan.
Time zone and practical details
New Orleans is on Central time, two hours ahead of Los Angeles. A 4 pm session is 2 pm for the mentor, and evenings are easy to schedule. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes, weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact between them.
Where a mentor fits
Mentors are not tutors, therapists or admissions counselors. They offer consistent, practical guidance and accountability. Parents of teens can start with mentoring for high school students; students on campus with mentoring for college students. Our online mentoring page explains the online format.
Related
Common questions
What happens to sessions during hurricane season?
Because sessions are online, they can continue from wherever a family is, including during an evacuation, as long as there is a connection. Sessions can also be moved when needed.
Do you meet clients in person in New Orleans?
No. Our team is in Los Angeles. New Orleans clients work with their mentor by video, with text and phone contact between sessions.
Can a mentor help a college student who is new to the city?
Yes. Mentors help new students build routines, manage their time and keep the semester on track, and with permission keep parents informed.
Get started
Want to talk about mentoring for someone in New Orleans? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.