Student Success Stories
"My
Mentor" by Wayne
Hoffman
It was at Transitions to College, that I first heard the
word “MENTOR.” During class, we were taught what a
mentor is and does. I
found myself thinking, when asked, “Yes, I would do it.
I would mentor somebody and be good at it.”
To my surprise, I was pulled aside, and told that
they had found a mentor for me.
I was bewildered and embarrassed.
I respectfully declined this offer.
It must have been a mistake on their part.
My grades were fine, and I seemed to be doing very
well. I should
be a mentor, not be mentored.
At home, that evening, with a still uneasy feeling, I
thought long and hard on this situation.
I came to the conclusion that I was confusing a
mentor with a tutor. A
tutor, I didn’t need.
A mentor, I could give it a chance and see what
happened.
Into our next TTC class, I walked with my head down, and
asked if the offer still stood.
Fortunately, for me, it did.
I received my first E-mail from my mentor in less
than a week; however, still unsure of this arrangement, it
took me about three weeks to reply.
The mentoring began, and I was using it.
My mentor became so much more than I could have hoped for. She is an ear to vent, a knowledgeable person to ask
questions to, just the right person to receive advice and
suggestions from. She
is a teacher who gives me more in a single E-mail than I
have learned in complete semesters.
Above all, she is that “kick in the pants” I need
to go out and accomplish my goals, or just simply complete
assignments. My
added bonus, is, my mentor never lacks the right compliment,
which builds my spirits and keeps me going.
We E-mail often, and I remember there was this one E-mail
saying that I was ready to be set free.
I completely avoided this statement and did not
respond. I am
not ready to loose my mentor, and the effects she has on me.
I still look forward to becoming a mentor myself, but only
if my mentor continues to be at my side and the friendship
stands.
Thanks
to TTC and “My Mentor”
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