Mentoring works How much more of a head start in life might children get if their "rites of passage" through their teen years, and their need to establish their own identity, were centered on exploring and expanding their unique talents? What if teen rebellion was discovered to be nothing more than a child's soul reacting to a forced detour off their Life path? When a child's right to a separate identity is ignored or denied, when their (perhaps unstated or undefined) goals are not supported, the child's frustration may turn into self-defeating rebellion. How much time and money can be saved, then, if parents and teachers simply support the direction the children want to grow. A teacher, acting as mentor, can help his or her students map out a life- course, based on the child's own interests and inner strengths and talents. As teachers learn how to mentor, they learn how to identify talents and strengths, and how to point their students toward success, so they can thrive in a rapidly changing world.