Village Talks Episode: Why Every Young Person Needs Someone in Their Corner with Christopher Santos

In this episode of Village Talks, Damien Howard sits down with Christopher Santos of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County to explore a truth that is both simple and urgent:

Every young person needs someone in their corner.

Christopher’s journey into mentoring wasn’t traditional. He didn’t start in education or youth development. He started in tech sales.

But something in him knew there had to be more.

After moving to San Diego, he did what many people do when they feel that pull toward purpose… he searched for a way to give back. That search led him to becoming a “Big,” mentoring a young person named Jaden—a relationship that would ultimately change both of their lives.

From Career to Calling

Christopher’s story reminds us that purpose doesn’t always start as a plan.

Sometimes it starts as a feeling.

Working in tech, he found success—but not fulfillment. Mentoring became the bridge between what he was doing and what he knew he was called to do.

What began as a volunteer commitment twice a month grew into something deeper:

• A long-term relationship

• A sense of responsibility

• A new understanding of impact

Eventually, that calling led him to join Big Brothers Big Sisters full-time, where he now helps others step into the same journey.

And here’s what’s powerful:

He didn’t wait until he had everything figured out to start making a difference.

The Myth of “I’m Not Ready”

One of the biggest barriers to mentoring is the belief that:

• “I’m not experienced enough”

• “I don’t have it all together”

• “I wouldn’t be a good mentor”

Christopher dismantles that completely.

You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present.

The real requirements of mentorship are not expertise or status.

They are:

• Stability

• Consistency

• Willingness to show up

That’s it.

And in a world where many young people lack consistent adult relationships, those three things become incredibly powerful.

What Mentorship Actually Looks Like

There’s another misconception Christopher addresses:

People think mentoring is complicated.

They imagine:

• Tutoring sessions

• Deep life advice every meeting

• Structured programming every time

But in reality?

Mentorship often looks like:

• Shooting basketball at the park

• Grabbing tacos

• Having simple conversations

It’s not about doing something extraordinary.

It’s about being consistently present in ordinary moments.

And over time, those moments build trust.

Helping Young People Navigate Rejection

One of the most practical insights from this conversation is how mentorship helps young people deal with something we all face:

Rejection.

Christopher shared how his mentee Jaden struggled to find a job early on—facing multiple “no’s” along the way.

Instead of shielding him from that reality, Christopher helped him:

• Keep applying

• Stay confident

• Understand that rejection is part of the process

Eventually, Jaden got the job.

But the bigger win wasn’t the job.

It was the lesson:

You can keep going, even when things don’t go your way.

That’s a life skill that extends far beyond adolescence.

The Outcome That Matters

Christopher shared a statistic that cuts through all the noise:

Young people in mentoring programs are more likely to graduate high school than their peers.

But even beyond data, there are moments that tell the story better than numbers ever could.

Like standing at Jaden’s high school graduation.

Like being pulled into a family photo—not as a volunteer, but as family.

That’s the power of mentorship.

It doesn’t just change outcomes.

It changes relationships.

The Real Gap: Men Showing Up

When asked what he would change if he had a magic wand, Christopher didn’t hesitate:

More men stepping up to mentor.

Not just for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

For communities.
For neighborhoods.
For young people everywhere.

The need is clear:

• More male mentors

• More consistent presence

• More willingness to engage

And the barrier?

Often it’s not time.

It’s hesitation.

Not knowing:

• What to do

• If they’re “good enough”

• If they’ll make a difference

Christopher’s answer is simple:

If you can show up, you can make an impact.

The Village Still Matters

At its core, this conversation reinforces what Village Talks is all about:

We are not meant to grow alone.

Mentorship is not just a program.

It’s a mindset.

It’s the idea that:

• Every young person should have someone in their corner

• Every adult has something to offer

• Every community has a role to play

And when that happens?

We don’t just change individual lives.

We build stronger villages.

A Final Challenge

Christopher left us with a clear invitation:

Be the person a young person can name when asked:

“Who’s in your corner?”

Because one consistent relationship can:

• Change a trajectory

• Build confidence

• Open doors

• Create belonging

And sometimes…

It can turn a stranger into family.