Jack’s Story: Finding direction, hope, and self-belief

When I first met Jack^†, he came across as confident, outgoing and popular. On the surface, he seemed like a young person who had everything under control. But it didn’t take long to realise he was carrying far more than he let people see.

Behind the confidence was a young man struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts and a deep sense of being misunderstood. He often clashed with his mum, and those frustrations followed him into school, where arguments with teachers and disruptive behaviour became common. He spoke about feeling lost, with little sense of where life was heading.

At first, building trust was the most important part of our work together. Jack didn’t want activities or worksheets. He simply wanted someone to talk to. Week after week, we sat together and explored whatever was on his mind. Once he realised I wasn’t there to judge him or tell him what to do, he slowly began to open up.

One of the things that stood out was how thoughtful Jack was. He asked questions about friendships; crime and the choices people make. He wasn’t looking for easy answers. He wanted to understand the world around him and his place within it.

As we talked, we began exploring the emotions behind his behaviour. Rather than focusing on what had gone wrong, we looked at what was within his control and how he could respond differently when life became difficult. Over time, he became much more aware of his emotions and started developing healthier ways to manage them.

Our conversations also helped him see things from his mum’s perspective. Slowly, the conflict between them began to ease as they communicated more openly. Watching that relationship improve was one of the most encouraging parts of his journey.

As Jack grew in confidence, our conversations naturally turned towards the future. We spoke about his GCSEs, possible careers and the kind of life he wanted to build for himself. Rather than giving him direction, I encouraged him to reflect on his own ambitions and discover what mattered most to him. Little by little, his uncertainty was replaced with purpose.

Looking back on mentoring, Jack said, “My highlight has been speaking about friendships and getting help to navigate them. I’ve also enjoyed exploring questions about crime and learning new things.”

By the end of our time together, the change in Jack was remarkable. The depression and suicidal thoughts that had overshadowed the beginning of his journey were no longer present. He had become more self-aware, emotionally resilient, and able to manage difficult situations both at home and in school. When measuring his overall wellbeing, he showed an increase of 4 on his Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), with a final score of 42, meaning he is now considered to have good mental wellbeing. His school attendance has  also recovered, with the school reporting he is now attending 100% of classes. Finally, his relationships with both his family and teachers became much more positive.

Jack has now begun preparing for his GCSEs and is looking ahead with optimism. He plans to continue into sixth form, where he hopes to keep playing rugby while exploring his growing interest in entrepreneurship. He moves forward with renewed confidence, a clearer sense of direction and the resilience to embrace whatever comes next.