I like to study.
Yes.
Really!
And what does this picture have to do with anything? Well nothing really but I saw it on another blog and I had to use it.
As a scholarly type, I like to research on my own and in class but I was always puzzled by this notion that you have to have a mentor.
Which made me wonder, what exactly is a mentor?
Is a mentor someone you go and meet with on a regular basis regarding the topic you want to know more about? Can a mentor be a book? An invisible internet friend?
Do you have to have one?
These are just some things I am thinking about this morning. Also, at what point do you move past needing a mentor to being a mentor? Or do you ever?
What do you guys think? Do you have mentors? Have you mentored anyone else?
This, as always, doesn’t have to be tied just to writing. You can also discuss other aspects of your life, I just like a good discussion.
And, I’m with cookie – how can I delete the cookies? Maybe he is my mentor.
Jessie, great topic! Mentoring has been just crucial to my day job — and research shows this is often true for women and minorities.
I’m pretty independent (okay, pig headed), so I wasn’t eager to Follow a Mentor who would help Shape My Law Career. But life slapped me around to the point where more experienced folks came begging to help me. And I was ready to listen when they told me that killing myself to practice law well wasn’t enough. Law firms live and die by the billable hour, and like other associates, I ended up grinding out loooong hours — so it seemed impossible/ridiculous to use up any of my precious free moments to work on business development stuff like giving speeches and writing articles. Especially when I had babies at home who barely knew who I was. But mentors emailed, called, and stopped by my desk telling me to do it. And they were right.
A good mentor can watch your back, boost your reputation — and help you get jobs. In my case, my mentors helped open the door to law firm partnership.
Mentors can also be role models. Mine were aces at handling difficult clients, and navigating law firm politics — among other delicate skills not taught in law school.
These days, on the law side, I try to pay it forward by helping those trying to build careers during these tough times.
And on the poetry and other creative writing side, I’ll take all the mentors I can get. Not to change my voice. Not to write for me. But, as in law, for all the stuff that goes beyond putting a pen to paper.
I love this Rose! I was reluctant to take on mentors when I was working. I had a few people I looked up to, but I think I have a hard time putting someone in a parental role over me (might be my background speaking up!) Maybe along with my natural introversion I have a hard time being taught in a one-on-one situation?
Although, I love classroom and peer tutoring/critiquing I have to say.
I thought about being a lawyer for a long, long time!
I totally hear you. I think when it works, the mentor thing kinda sneaks in . . . it’s not like submitting to anything (although, hold it, that’s starting to sound interesting
).
Funny that you thought about being a lawyer! I did it because I had mouths to feed. May take that kind of desperation . . .
Love the cartoon!
I think everyone has the capacity to be a teacher and a student, no matter age or experience. The minute I stop seeking growth through the wisdom of others is the minute the world stops.
Beautifully said, Bryan!
I agree this is really terrific Bryan, and a lot of what I feel!
I am glad I stumbled upon you guys…and I am clutzy too!
Cookies, did I hear cookies were ready? hmmm
I am with Bryan, I have always believed whether a person stays in your life for a day, or years, we learn from all ages, and walks of life in some capacity- mentors are like angels, we might not even know they are one…
I am available for adoption…I cook for advise…
Love the topic. With regard to writing, I instantly dislike the hierarchical idea of a mentor, but I think it’s a useful term nonetheless. I hope that a person can someday go from being mentored to being a mentor herself, and that it doesn’t necessarily have to mean that the mentoring has to end. What I mean to say is that if a mentoring relationship is to really work, the mentor will have just as much to take away from it as the the one being mentored can.
If that made any sense.
No makes perfect sense to me. I think it is one of the issues I have. I think we are all students and teachers, and we just play different roles at different times in our life. I’ve always just felt a bit irked that I don’t have people I’d called “mentors” because everyone else seems to. I have people that I call teachers and friends but not necessarily mentors
Wonderful subject to open up an important discussion. There have been many mentors in my life and when I was young they were far more abundant than now. I don’t think anything can determine who will mentor you except that they have something you want to learn and they can teach you. Age doesn’t have anything to do with it, at least as far as my own experience is concerned. It’s interesting you should mention this because I spent some time today with a mentor type person. She is eighty years old and while I was visiting here, she disappeared downstairs for a while. Soon, I heard her calling me and I descended the steps to see her standing on her head! lol She wants me to try this because she says it’s good for your neck and arm strength lol She is my new teacher which is one reason she is in the dedication of the Granny book…Gertrude Elton. Know what else Jessie? Some of you have mentored me about different aspects of this business, so there!
I love Gertrude already!
Ya know I like the word mentored more than the term being a mentor. Why am I so caught up in semantics?
Jessie, you make a GREAT point. Semantics! Turns out Mentor was a friend of Odysseus, entrusted with the education of Odysseus’ son. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor
Sweet.
slightly OT but i love that cartoon! wahaha!
I HAD to have that cookie monster picture! HAD TO!