The power of showing up: where belonging begins

What if belonging doesn’t begin with an invitation? What if it begins with simply showing up?

This year, as I begin another year as a Compass mentor with Noblesville Schools, our theme is The Power of Showing Up. The more I thought about those four words, the more I realized how deeply they connect to something I have come to believe through my own journey: belonging begins when someone chooses to be present.

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

Sometimes, a student doesn’t need another adult with all the answers. They need one more adult who will sit beside them, listen without judgment, notice when something feels different, and remind them, “You can count on me.”

That is the heart of Compass mentoring.

Our training brought together mentors with a wide range of experiences – from first-time volunteers to mentors who have been part of the program for five years. We may have different stories, professions, and life experiences, but we shared something important: a genuine passion to show up for students when they need another person in their corner.

And showing up is more than physically being there.

We learned about the difference between simply listening, focused listening, and global listening. Focused listening asks us to pay attention to the words. Global listening asks us to notice everything around those words – the body language, facial expressions, pauses, energy and tone.

Sometimes the most important part of a conversation is what isn’t being said.

A student’s “I’m fine” might mean many different things. Instead of assuming, global listening encourages us to pause, observe and gently ask.

We also explored the LASER-LIGHT approach: Listen deeply. Ask wisely. Speak empathetically. Establish common ground. Respond rather than react.

Those are more than mentoring techniques. They are tools for building trust.

We talked about empathy versus sympathy, fight-or-flight responses, constructive feedback and even the “sandwich method” – begin with something positive, offer constructive feedback, and close with encouragement. The lesson isn’t about finding the perfect formula for every conversation. It is about remembering that how we communicate can determine whether someone feels corrected or cared for.

And sometimes, showing up means meeting someone exactly where they are.

Maybe the student walks into a meeting having had a difficult day. Maybe they are quiet. Maybe their energy is completely different from the last time you met.

Our job isn’t always to bring them to where we are.

Sometimes, our job is to meet them where they are.

That idea reminds me of Taste of Community. Community isn’t built because everyone arrives with the same story, the same culture, or the same perspective. It is built because people keep making room for one another.

Showing up says: I see you.

Listening says: I want to understand you.

Consistency says: You can count on me.

And together, those things create something powerful: belonging.

As I look forward to another year of mentoring, I am excited about the big moments and the small ones: the conversations, the questions, the challenges, the laughter, and even the moments when I may not know exactly what to say.

Because perhaps that is the most important lesson of all:

We don’t have to show up perfectly.

We just have to show up genuinely.

One conversation. One listening moment. One encouraging word. One student at a time.

Because sometimes, the person who changes someone’s day isn’t the person who has the perfect answer.

It’s simply the person who showed up.

And that is the power of showing up.

Belonging begins there.

Pooja Thakkar is working to build cultural connections. You can read her column each week in the pages of The Reporter.