Yes, families in Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs can work with a Blackburn mentor by video. Our team is in Los Angeles, and clients in Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville and across Marion County meet one dedicated mentor online each week, scheduled in Eastern time. We work with high school students and their parents, college students, young adults and professionals.
The north suburbs and a fast-growing county
Hamilton County, just north of Indianapolis, has been one of the fastest-growing parts of the Midwest for years. Carmel is known for its roundabouts and planned downtown; Fishers, Westfield and Noblesville have added new neighborhoods, schools and sports complexes at a steady clip. Zionsville, to the northwest, keeps a smaller-town feel. The public districts across the north side are well regarded, and the independent and parochial schools in Indianapolis draw families from around the metro.
Families moving in for work are common, and kids starting at a new school is a frequent part of what we hear.
An economy of medicine, logistics and sports
Indianapolis is a major center for pharmaceuticals and life sciences, health care, insurance and finance. Because so many interstates meet here, logistics and distribution are big employers too. The city is also known for motorsports in May and for hosting major amateur and college sporting events. All of which means a lot of parents in demanding jobs, and a lot of teenagers who play a sport seriously.
Athletes, and everyone else with a full calendar
Indiana takes high school sports seriously, basketball above all. Student athletes here often train year round, travel on weekends and still carry a full academic load. A mentor helps them plan the week around practice, protect sleep and keep grades from sliding in season. The same structure helps the student who is in band, theater or a part-time job.
- Map the whole week each Sunday, including practices, games and assignments.
- Pick the two or three things that matter most and do them first.
- Plan around away games and tournaments, not after them.
- Check in midweek by text, so a bad Tuesday gets fixed by Wednesday.
Our guide on executive function skills explains the planning habits underneath this.
College in Indiana, and the first year away
Indiana has a large number of colleges and universities, including big public campuses an hour or so from the city and several smaller schools in and around Indianapolis. Many students stay in state; others go to Chicago, Ohio or farther. The first year is where most of the trouble shows up: missed classes, a lost sense of routine, too much freedom too fast. A mentor meets the student by video, wherever they are, and helps rebuild structure. With permission, parents get regular updates. See homesickness in the first year and college transition mentoring.
Young professionals downtown and in the suburbs
Indianapolis is an affordable city with real career options, and many young adults stay after college or move here for a first job. Neighborhoods like Fountain Square, Mass Ave and Broad Ripple are popular with people in their twenties. Mentors help with the practical side: a first budget, a career plan, whether to buy or rent, a routine that survives long hours. See budgeting for young adults.
Session times in Indiana
Indianapolis is on Eastern time and observes daylight saving time, so it stays three hours ahead of Los Angeles all year. A 4 pm session after school is 1 pm for the mentor; a 7 pm session after work is 4 pm. We schedule in your local time, so nobody has to do the math.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor is a steady, practical guide, not a tutor, therapist or admissions counselor. Mentors work alongside the people already in a student’s life. Families with teens usually start with mentoring for high school students. For young adults, see young adult mentoring. The full picture of video sessions is on our online mentoring page.
Related
Common questions
Do you work with families in Carmel and Fishers?
Yes, by video. Clients anywhere in the Indianapolis area meet their mentor online, with sessions scheduled in Eastern time.
Can a mentor work around a student athlete’s schedule?
Yes. Sessions can be weekly or several times a week, scheduled around practices and games, with text check-ins between them.
What time zone are sessions in?
Indianapolis sessions are set in Eastern time. Indiana observes daylight saving time, so the gap with Los Angeles stays at three hours year round.
Get started
Would it help to talk through what your student or young adult needs? 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.