Why One Supportive Adult Can Change Everything

By Jason Smith, Founder & Executive Director, Soleful Kicks

We Often Remember the Person, Not the Program

Ask most adults to identify a person who influenced their life, and many can do it immediately.

A teacher.

A coach.

A mentor.

A supervisor.

A family member.

Someone who took the time to listen, encourage, challenge or simply show up when it mattered.

Years later, we may not remember every class we took in high school or college but, chances are, we almost all remember a teacher or professor who made us feel seen, valued and capable.  That person who encouraged us and gave us direction. 

The influence of a supportive adult can last a lifetime.

The Power of Being Seen

Young people face no shortage of advice.  They are constantly being told what they should do, how they should behave and what they need to improve.  What is often missing is someone who takes the time to truly see them – meeting them where they are at without telling them what to do. 

This can be as simple as someone who notices their effort and listens without judgement. Someone who asks how they are doing and genuinely waits for the answer.

Feeling seen is powerful. It communicates something every young person needs to hear:

“You matter.”

For many youth, especially those navigating difficult circumstances, that message can be transformative.

Small Moments Often Matter Most

When people think about mentorship, they sometimes imagine dramatic conversations or life-changing speeches but in reality, meaningful relationships are often built through much smaller moments.  Moments that at the time feel almost insignificant.  Things like:

A quick check-in.

A text message of encouragement.

A conversation after practice.

Celebrating a small victory.

Or something as simple as asking ‘how are you doing’?

Moments like these mean more than we know at the time and show that someone cares. Many of us can look back and identify small moments that shaped our confidence in ways we did not fully appreciate until years later.  Sometimes decades. 

Often, it wasn’t the advice that mattered most but just knowing someone believed in us.  They cared, and we mattered to them.

 

 

 

Support Creates Accountability

One of the most overlooked benefits of supportive relationships is accountability.

Young people are far more likely to follow through when they know someone is invested in their success.  A parent, a coach, a teacher, a boss, a friend.   These relationships matter and not just because we are afraid of disappointing someone.  Because they know someone cares enough to ask and be involved in their lives. 

That distinction matters.

Accountability works best when it grows from a relationship built on trust and encouragement.  When a young person knows a trusted adult believes in them, goals begin to feel more achievable.  Effort feels more worthwhile and setbacks feel less permanent. 

Support and accountability are not opposing forces that must work against each other.  Instead, when done well, they work together.

One Adult Can Change a Trajectory

Most supportive adults will never fully understand the impact they have.  They may never know that a conversation prevented someone from giving up or that their words of encouragement arrived at exactly the right moment.

They may never see the long-term results of their supportive relationship but the impact is real and long lasting. 

Research consistently shows that positive relationships with caring adults are among the strongest predictors of healthy youth development. Confidence grows. Resilience increases. Hope becomes easier to sustain.

One adult cannot solve every challenge a young person faces but one adult can provide stability and encouragement. Sometimes, that alone, is enough to change the course a youth is on.

Most of us can identify at least one supportive adult who helped shape our future. The challenge is that many young people today are still waiting to meet that person.

 

 

 

 

Why This Matters

At Soleful Kicks, the sneakers are an obvious visible and tangible reward.  They are what opens the door for a stronger, more impactful mentor relationship and that is the greatest impact we can help provide any youth.   

While goals, accountability and recognition all matter it is often the supportive adult helping a young person stay engaged and encouraged that, in the end, matters most. 

These relationships often help form a youth’s foundation that can help shape their future.

The teacher who stayed after class to help you through a tough assignment.  The coach who pushed you a little harder and called on you during the ‘big game’.  The boss who believed in you when you weren’t sure you should believe in yourself.

The reality is that many of those individuals may never fully understand the role they played but their influence remains and sometimes that’s all it takes to change everything.