The Mentoring Advantage: Adolescent Girls and Self-Confidence

Adolescence can be a difficult time, especially for girls. At the same time that many young women begin struggling with self-esteem, body image issues, and risky behaviors, girls often begin distancing themselves from parents who are doing all they can to maintain open communication. Club Xcite helps to bridge that gap, fostering positive self-esteem and self-image while encouraging girls to reach their highest potential.

Eating disorders, low self-esteem, and self-harming tendencies are much easier to prevent than cure, which is why adolescent girls benefit so strongly from positive mentoring influences. We focus on prevention through positive role modeling and instilling an authentic enjoyment of physical activity. Around adolescence, many girls become frustrated with traditional competitive sports and decided that sports simply aren’t for them. Club Xcite’s girls’ program focuses on non-competitive outdoor physical activities including yoga, hiking, and surfing.

Club Xcite mentors work with parents to counter the often-destructive media and peer messages about body image flooding Southern California’s young women. Mentors draw on their academic backgrounds in psychology, sociology, gender studies and exercise physiology to emphasize enjoyable physical activity and overall fitness, cultivating an appreciation for physical activity as a key to managing stress and staying healthy. Club Xcite hand-selects each mentor for their combination of strong academic background with high school and college athletic experience, as well as time spent counseling peers and young women on healthy body image and healthy lifestyles. Our mentors are committed to building a strong foundation of confidence and making a difference in every child’s life.