The Joy of Mentoring
We had an hour before Expanding Your Horizons started, so I took her to the Atlas building. We'd chat for a bit, then I'd read while A drew. She knew it was the building in which I taught last year, so we talked about the class. At one point, I asked if she had to start a career tomorrow, what she'd be. Fashion designer. (Mentally noted, later in the day I'd introduce her to my fashion designer friend, Lola.)
When we got to the conference at five past ten it was A, multiplied by three hundred. She checked herself in while I tried to do as few embarrassing things as possible. (Wasn't that long ago I was a teenager and adults were forever doing embarrassing things.) We edited her badge together. I gave her one of my stickers to wear on the back of the badge (sure! I'll advertise for you! came her witty response). Then I said, hasta luego chica. You're on your own now! See you at two. (She would text if anything came up. Which was great except my phone ran out of battery around noon.) On my way out, was happy to notice a previous client, Pangea Organics, had sponsored the event.
And off I went to read, enjoy a chocolate mate latte. (Only in Boulder?) My mind kept shooting over to what she might be doing. Some sort of Physics game? Was she learning about computer programming? Was she deciding what she wanted to be when she grew up? (I'd asked her if she wanted to go to CU. She shook her head "no." And added, "it's a total party school.") Later in the day she taught me how to play Mancala and we split a piece of cheesecake. I introduced her to all my business owner girlfriends on Pearl Street who happened to be keeping shop on a Saturday.
We talked fashion and then read books for an hour. It was over before I knew it. And you know what? It was one of those days you go into thinking you're going to teach and you come out having learned.
How many times have you thought to yourself, "I'll mentor someone, someday, when I'm successful enough to mentor someone."
If you can navigate to this website, you can mentor someone.
If you can read this blog post, you can mentor someone.
If you can type a comment, you can mentor someone.
And I hope for their sake, and for yours, you will.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Reader Comments (10)
This is FANTASTIC Gwen. I had the benefit of going to a small undergraduate college where a host of amazing mentors (alums as well as staff/profs) were instrumental in helping me see via experiential learning that certain paths (e.g., law, politics) were not for me. Those experiences made a huge impression on me and I since have tried whenever I can to pay it forward via mentorship. -Christine
What a lovely day! How lucky you both are to support growth and joy.
I *love* that you wrote about mentorship. I'm overjoyed about some big news related to mentoring and my life coming up this week. When the organization posts the press release I'll gladly head back over here to share.
I encourage everyone to take on the gift of being a mentor and also finding a mentor to support your dreams. It's amazing.
Mentoring (and any other kind of sharing what we've got) rocks!
I've had a lot of those days (like you described: "one of those days you go into thinking you're going to teach and you come out having learned") - on one of them I went to a mental health drop-in center to share (and fine tune) a creativity course I was working on.
I worried about whether the folks would be able to get anything out of our work together, since the SMI clients at the clinic were often in acute emotional pain. I left overwhelmed with what they taught me.
I'm definitely passing this along to @jgrisley, including a link to EYH. Thanks!
It's amazing to know that you not only have made a difference in her life, but that she had made one in yours. I think it's wonderful that you've become a mentor - such a rewarding good thing to do in life!
How did you get started in mentoring?
I have mentored for a few years as part of a graphic design program and I had a young man seek me out a couple of years ago to mentor him on the business side of photography. Funny thing is, I think my business side is a hot mess. Even still, he taught me a lot about myself and made me think about what I wanted for myself creatively. It is definitely a beneficial relationship.
I think all too often many of us mentor without ever knowing we're doing it. Great post!
You're such a fabulous person. I will keep this tucked away for reference. =)
Adults, in addition to parents, make a huge impact in how kids grow up and see themselves. I wish more people would take this on. It would make my job as a teacher a lot easier and make the world a better place.