Online mentoring in Chicago and the North Shore pairs a student, young adult or professional with one dedicated Blackburn mentor who meets them by video in Central time. Our team is in Los Angeles. Sessions run weekly or several times a week, with text and phone check-ins between them, so the plan keeps moving even when the weather does not.
Planning for the long winter
Chicagoans know the pattern. Fall is busy and energetic, then November arrives, the wind comes off the lake and daylight disappears early. By January, getting to the L or the Metra platform feels like an accomplishment. Motivation dips for students and adults alike, and good habits from September fade.
We plan for winter before it starts. A mentor helps a client set up:
- A fixed wake-up time and morning routine that does not depend on sunlight
- Indoor exercise that is scheduled, not hoped for
- Weekly goals cut small enough to finish during the darkest stretch
- Standing plans with friends or family, so weekends do not disappear
If winter brings a low mood that does not lift, a licensed professional is the right step, and a mentor can help you find and keep that appointment. In a crisis, call or text 988.
North Shore high school students
Families in Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park and Lake Forest often have students in strong, demanding public and independent schools. Many juggle a full course load with sports, music and summer programs. High school mentoring here focuses on the skills grades depend on: planning, follow-through, sleep and confidence. A parent or guardian joins the intro call, agrees the goals and receives regular progress updates. Our mentors are not tutors or admissions counselors.
College students across the Midwest
Students from Chicago often head to large state universities across Illinois and neighboring states, where lecture halls are big and nobody notices a missed class. Others stay in the city and commute, which brings its own pressure. College mentoring helps with:
- Building a weekly schedule around class, work and commuting
- Using office hours and advising before grades slip
- Choosing a major or reconsidering one
- Internships and summer jobs back home in the city
Young professionals in the city
Many graduates settle in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park or the West Loop and start careers in finance, trading, consulting, healthcare or tech. The work is demanding and the social scene is lively, and both can crowd out the rest of life. A mentor helps young adults with budgeting, routines and decisions about the next step. Professionals who want someone to hold them to their own plan can read about accountability coaching.
Session times from Central time
Chicago is two hours ahead of Los Angeles. A 4:00 pm Central session after school is 2:00 pm for your mentor, and a 7:00 pm Central session after work is 5:00 pm Pacific. Sessions last 30 or 60 minutes on a weekly or monthly plan, and many clients add a short Sunday session to plan the week before the Monday commute.
How a mentor keeps Chicago weeks moving
Chicago rewards people who keep showing up, through the cold, the commute and the busy seasons at work and school. A mentor makes showing up easier: a standing time, a short list of goals and a person who notices when things start to drift. See how online mentoring works.
Related
- Online mentoring in Minneapolis
- Online mentoring in Ann Arbor and Detroit
- How to build a daily routine
- How we work with families
- Online Mentoring in Milwaukee
- Online Mentoring in Indianapolis
Common questions
Is online mentoring practical in a Chicago winter?
It is one of the best times for it. Video sessions do not get cancelled by snow, and a standing weekly time gives structure to the darkest months.
Do you work with families on the North Shore and in the suburbs?
Yes. We work with families in Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, the western suburbs and the city, all by video.
What time zone are sessions in?
Sessions are scheduled in Central time. Our team is in Los Angeles, two hours behind, which makes after-school and early evening sessions easy to arrange.
Can parents be involved?
Yes. For high school students a parent or guardian is involved from the start, and older students and young adults can choose to share updates with family.
Get started
Looking for a mentor in Chicago? 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.