Children are more likely to reach their potential when surrounded by a diverse network
It should come as no surprise that young people are better off having more caring, committed adults by their sides. Most adults had teachers, coaches, neighbors, and extended family that supported them as they fumbled their way through adolescence. It’s likely that the adults in their lives largely reflected their own racial identity and socio-economic status (not to mention political and religious affiliations). This can have the positive effect of reinforcing a set of values that were important to their families and deepen relationships with those most proximate to them. Conversely, this may have had a counterproductive effect by limiting their perspectives and exposure while also privileging those born with more access.
That networks matter is obvious. What’s less obvious are the ways and the extent to which a diverse network of adults matters for a young person. Decades of research show a simple truth: Children are more likely to reach their potential when surrounded by a diverse network of adults that validate, affirm, empower, and connect them.
Children who have adults of different races, genders, professions, and interests in their lives are more likely to:
Develop divergent thinking. In his book The Medici Effect, Frans Johansson writes that people who have a diverse set of contacts are more likely to think outside the box and develop creative ideas, original solutions, and see the world as nuanced rather than black and white. Divergent thinkers also tend to be more collaborative. Through exposure to adults across lines of difference, children can leverage this skill in determining what clubs to join, how to solve complex mathematical problems, create innovative science fair projects, and weigh the pros and cons of choosing a college.
Gain exposure to new interests and passions. If a young person has never taken a class in coding, it’s hard for them to know if they like it or not. The same holds true for playing baseball, traveling to a different part of the country or world, being an engineer, playing the piano, or serving as a community organizer. Other than schools, the adults in a child’s life play a key role in exposing them to new experiences, hobbies, and interests. It would stand to reason then that the more diverse a child’s network of adults is, the more exposure they’ll get. In turn, a young person can then do what young people do: try things out until they find the things they love.
Connect with new people and opportunities. In his article “How diversity builds a powerful personal network,” Ivan Misner writes, “When it comes to networking, diversity is key because it allows us to locate these connectors, or linchpins, between clusters of people. Connectors are the gateways to other people. They create shortcuts across groups.” It’s rarely the person we know that can connect us with the next job or opportunity, but rather the person we know that knows a person. The adage “it’s not what you know but who you know” applies to young people as much as it does adults. One of the most powerful gifts adults can give to a young person is opening up their networks. It costs next to nothing but the return can be priceless.
Many adults wonder how impactful they can be when mentoring, tutoring, coaching, or teaching young people across lines of difference. At Backrs, we believe that it is precisely this difference and the perspectives, skills, networks, and experiences that come with it that can further empower young people to reach their full potential.
