Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of Latino males who engaged in an informal mentoring relationship and the impact of these relationships as it related to their pursuit of a postsecondary education. Methodology. The researcher conducted a qualitative approach to the study. The subjects in the present study were 8 Latino males enrolled at a postsecondary institution with more than 60 semester or 90 quarter units completed towards their college degree. Subjects were interviewed individually utilizing 14 semistructured interview questions. The interview questions investigated influencing factors, mentoring strategies, and the role of mentors in relation to academic success, high school completion, and college enrollment. Findings. Using phenomenological interpretive analysis, examination of qualitative data from the 8 interviews revealed four primary themes and various subthemes within the primary themes. Participants identified various benefits from engaging in an informal mentoring relationship, characteristics of mentors were identified, participants discovered a ripple effect, and challenges Latino males experience in relation to establishing a mentoring relationship were recognized. Conclusions. The data and findings from this study concluded that adolescent informal mentoring is effective among young men in influencing them to complete high school and pursue a postsecondary education. The interaction participants experienced with their mentors led them to change behavior to achieve higher levels of academic performance, academic competence, participation, motivation, higher self-esteem, and academic perseverance. Recommendations. Further research in the following areas is advised: a qualitative study on the effects of formal mentoring relationships among Latino males, a similar qualitative study on Latino females and informal mentoring relationships to explore the variables that contribute to females' experiences to understand the disparity between the two groups, further research on the impact Latino fraternities have on college persistence and degree attainment, a study on sociocultural challenges of engaging in informal mentoring relationships and formal mentoring programs among the Latino population, a study on the trickle effect of mentoring relationships, and finally, a study on the mentoring experiences of Latino males who dropped out of high school and pursued a college degree.