Students, families and young adults in Claremont and Pomona can work with one dedicated Blackburn mentor by video or in person in Los Angeles. The approach is simple: a few specific goals, weekly steps to reach them and text and phone contact between sessions so the plan does not stall.
A college town next to a working city
Claremont is known for its tree-lined streets, and its walkable Village, and it carries the nickname “the City of Trees and PhDs.” Pomona, right next door, is a larger city with a downtown arts district, and the Fairplex, where the county fair is held. Mount Baldy rises to the north, and the 10, the 210 and Metrolink connect both cities to the rest of the region.
Put together, the area has plenty of college students, alongside families with teenagers and young adults finding their way after school.
For college students
College asks students to manage their own time for the first time, often with a heavy reading load, a job and a social life all competing. A mentor does not do coursework. A mentor helps with the system around it:
- Map out the semester, including every major deadline, in the first week
- Block study time and protect it like a class
- Go to office hours early, before a grade becomes a problem (talking to professors)
- Plan internships and summer work a term ahead
- Check in weekly on what slipped and why
Students far from home can keep the same mentor over breaks and after graduation. See mentoring for college students and first year of college support.
For high school students and their parents
A teenager may be missing assignments, sleeping late or avoiding the question of what comes next. A mentor works with the student on routines, a first job and a plan for after graduation. A parent or guardian joins the intro call, agrees the goals and gets regular progress updates (mentoring for high school students).
For young adults who are between things
Some young adults have finished or left school and are not sure what is next. Common goals include a steady job, a budget, a plan for a trade or degree and moving into a place of their own. A mentor keeps the steps small and the check-ins regular (young adult mentoring).
What to expect from a mentor
A mentor is a practical guide and an accountability partner, not a tutor, therapist or admissions counselor. With permission, mentors share progress with family and coordinate with professionals already involved, such as a campus advisor or a counselor.
Meeting from the east end of the county
Claremont and Pomona are a real drive from central Los Angeles, especially at rush hour, so most sessions run by video, which fits easily between classes. In-person meetings take place in Los Angeles when they help. Neighbors can read about mentoring in the San Gabriel Valley and mentoring in the Inland Empire.
Getting started
- Start with the five-minute assessment. It asks about goals, schedule and what has been tried already.
- Expect a call, not an automated reply: the free intro call is where fit and rates come up.
- We choose one mentor for you based on that conversation.
- Meet by video between classes or in person in Los Angeles, for 30 or 60 minutes, on a weekly or monthly plan.
Campus seasons and hometown life in the Pomona Valley
This corner of the county follows the academic calendar more than most. When campuses fill in late summer, the cafes and sidewalks get busy; when they empty in May, the area quiets down fast. Around it sit La Verne, San Dimas, Upland and Diamond Bar, with Bonelli Park and the foothill trails for weekends and snow on Mount Baldy in winter. Work nearby includes health care, education, warehousing east toward Ontario, local government and small business.
Local teens grow up surrounded by college life, yet many will take a different route: a job, a trade, a community college or a campus elsewhere. College students who arrive from far away sometimes find the area quieter than they expected, especially once break starts and friends scatter.
Situations that come up often in Claremont and Pomona
- A student staying near campus over the summer who needs a schedule once classes stop
- A local young adult who works near the colleges but feels outside that world and unsure of their own path
- A first-year student from out of state who finds weekends slow and starts drifting from routines
- A Pomona teen choosing between starting work right after graduation and enrolling in a program
- A senior about to graduate who has not decided whether to stay in the area or move on
Out here near the county line, video is the usual format, which keeps sessions easy to fit between classes or a shift. In-person sessions take place in Los Angeles when it suits, arranged at a convenient, appropriate place, and short texts and calls keep things moving between them. Read about mentoring and coaching in Los Angeles and virtual mentoring, and see our guide to a college summer plan for the months when the campuses go quiet.
Related
- Mentoring in Los Angeles
- Mentoring in the San Gabriel Valley
- Mentoring in the Inland Empire
- Mentoring across California
Common questions
Can a college student sign up without a parent?
Yes. College students and adults sign up for themselves. Family gets updates only with the student’s permission.
Will a mentor help me write papers?
No. Mentors help with planning, time management and follow-through, not with course content or writing assignments.
Can I keep my mentor over the summer?
Yes. Video sessions continue wherever you are in the United States, scheduled in your local time zone.
Are sessions available at night?
Yes. Evening sessions are common for students and working adults.
Get started
Want to see if a mentor would help this semester? 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.