Students Who Meet Regularly with Their Mentors are:
52%
Less Likely to Skip a Day of School
37%
Less Likely to Skip a Class
46%
Less Likely to Start Using Illegal Drugs
27%
Less Likely to Start Drinking
The Role
An Arches Guide will spend their time helping a student explore careers of their interest. Through the experiences we provide, they'll learn about how they're uniquely skilled and find out what steps are required to pursue their interests. You don't have to have all the answers, skills, or networking connections. You just need the abiliy to listen, ask questions, and walk alongside the student on their own path.
The Arches Guide walks with the student as they map out their career path. They facilitate meetings between their students and "Subject Matter Experts", who will advise the student on exactly what steps to take to reach their goals. Essentially, the Arches Guide is their student's connector to the professional world.
You've likely been on your own career path at some point in your life, so you know the basics. But a career path isn't just about a job. It's about the whole person: their skills and passions, their dreams and hopes, their challenges and strengths.
The best guides are good at asking questions and are great listeners. If you're considering becoming an Arches Guide, here are some questions to ask yourself:
-
Are you passionate to see students and our community thrive?
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Do you have about 1 hour a month to work with a student?
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Do you enjoy encouraging others?​
What Makes for a Good Guide?
How We Spend Our Time
Being an Arches Guide varies in time commitment, but tends to look like 1 hour per month per student. You'll spend time in one-on-one sessions, accompanying them to Subject Matter Expert meetings and attending Arches events throughout the school year.
At-Risk Students with Mentors Are:
55%
More Likely to Enroll in College
78%
More Likely to Volunteer Regularly
90%
More Likely to Be Interested in Mentoring
130%
More Likely to Hold Leadership Positions
Meet Our Guides
These are a few members of our wonderful team of guides.

Shelbi
Shelbi is a stay-at-home mom with two teenage boys. She has a passion for fitness and a passion for helping people reach their fitness goals. She and her husband are native New Mexicans who love their East Mountain community. Shelbi became an Arches coach because she genuinely loves working with. youth. She has a special needs child who has benefited greatly from having amazing coaches in his life and she has a huge desire to give back in the same way.

Marv
Marv is a Principal with Levanta Leding, a relationship-based lender providing high impact loans and financial coaching to borrowers. A native of New Mexico, Marv currently lives in Albuquerque with his beautiful wife, Barb. He enjoys fly fishing, squash (not the kind you eat), and hanging out with his six grandchildren. Marv is an Arches coach because he believes that every student has more potential than they can imagine. He maintains that all of us benefit from having multiple voices in our lives cheering us on, helping us dream, and helping us make good choices. Arches gives him the opportunity to be one of those voices.

Marissa
Marissa is a self-proclaimed "cat lady" and works as an oncology nurse practitioner. In her free time, she enjoys baking, gardening, working out, traveling with her husband, and participating in her family's book club! Marissa is a native New Mexican, She says, "I love how friendly New Mexicans are. I love the open skies, the gorgeous sunsets, and the incredible weather." Marissa believes that Arches is an incredible opportunity for students to connect with businesses and professionals around Albuquerque that can open doors to opportunities for determining what you want to do with your life. One piece of advice Marissa would give to a student is: "Be open to new ideas for your career path. I started out as a business major and quickly realized that I was not passionate about that path. I took a leap of faith, went to nursing school, and eventually ended up becoming a nurse practitioner. Being open to studying new things or trying new experiences could lead you to your passion and eventually, to a career!

Ashley
Ashley is a native New Mexican who loves music, her family, and chocolate. She is passionate about seeing students discover their career paths. She believes that every student deserves opportunities to walk in any door of any organization and feel welcome. Her hope is that Arches students will discover their unique talents and realize that the world needs their contribution.

Jon
Jon is a proud father of three and husband to his beautiful wife, Katherine. They live in the East Mountains, pursuing an active lifestyle in God's creation. Jon is a pilot for the New Mexico Air National Guard and Southwest Airlines. In his free time, he's most often found outdoors mountain biking, hiking, hunting, or fishing. Jon is intentional about living a life of purpose and believes in chasing your passion. He is an Arches coach because he has been blessed with the gift of mentors and guides in his life to show him the way, and he aspires to help others on their journey. "Be the change that you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

Shawna
Shawna loves getting to know new people, going on hikes with her husband and dog, and being with her adult children and grandson. Shawna and her husband ended up in New Mexico because they work for the collegiate division of the Navigators. UNM had been a national priority to send full-time staff for about 7 years and they felt like this was where God was leading them. Shawna loves the mountains, the culture, and the climate. of New Mexico. Since they've never lived in this part of the country, they also love the new, beautiful places to visit. Shawna became an Arches coach because she loves the vision for helping students gain confidence and realize nothing is too difficult for them to achieve. Joining Arches gives a student an opportunity to meet professionals in the occupation they want to pursue. If Shawna could give a student one piece of advice, it would be, "Don't feel like you have to know your entire future right now. You may start down one path and realize there's something different that interests you more. That's ok. No experience you have along the way is wasted."

Doug
Doug is a trainer/developer of future leaders and works with the Navigators on UNM's campus. He and his wife, Shawna, have three adult daughters, two of which are here in Albuquerque. Shawna and Doug have lived here over three years and enjoy walking their dog, Adobe, finding really good coffee, and hanging out with friends and family. Doug is an Arches coach because he believes that every hard-working student should have the confidence and skill to pursue their dreams of a career and life that fits their passions and strongly-held beliefs!

Rodrigo
Rodrigo is a native New Mexican who graduated from Albuquerque High and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico. He works as a strength and conditioning coach with Elevate PHW. He says, "I'm excited to be working with kids and coaches who are wanting to better themselves and their community."

Kendall
Kendall is a dad, husband, and connector. He is a jack of all trades, master of none,and an enjoyer of all sports. Kendall owns a franchise in Albuquerque called Visiting Angels, a home healthcare company, and has been running it for almost 8 years. He joined Arches because of the power of connection. Kendall says, "Everything I have or ever wanted to have was because I met or had someone introduce me to the right person, system, company, or way. I love working with Arches and am excited to be on this journey in connecting the dots for young people in Albuquerque."

Katherine
Katherine is a wife and stay-at-home mom of three teenagers. She loves to teach yoga, mountainbike, rock climb, ski, sew, and paint. Katherine believes in the value of Arches and is a coach partially because she would have greatly benefited from having an Arches coach as a teenager. She loves the idea of having kids interview people in the profession they are considering, and exploring all of the possibilities before they have started to go down a specific path.

Let's Connect
Address
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3550 Pan American Fwy
Albuquerque, NM
87107
Text
505-917-5350
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