Published on April 9, 2021

We’re generally surrounded by people who want something from us. Parents, teachers, relatives, even some friends. Everyone has their own expectations from us and our lives. And in the middle of all this noise, we tend to forget what we wanted from our own life. Maybe that’s why we need to add someone to this mix, who’ll help us find that path back.

Here enters a Mentor

We all have fuzzy definitions of what a mentor is. A guru? A guide? A teacher? A holy man? A beaming light from the heavens? Well, it could be all of the above, or it could be something else entirely. Depends on what you want. Think of a mentor as just someone to speak with, who can give you a perspective that you never thought existed, who can offer ‘empathetic assistance’ to the questions in your head.

Mentorship is a way to have a frank and open conversation, where you can put your dreams on the table. If this person is a good mentor, they will respond to it with a genuine concern for your ambitions. They won’t put their own ambitions into your head. They can encourage and inspire you, be that sounding board for your doubts, maybe even introduce you to a new career path. This isn’t therapy, it’s a peer you can talk to who’ll help widen your horizons.

Now, why would they do that?

A mentor is someone who doesn’t have a stake in your life, so if you do something wrong, they aren’t going to scold you or shout at you. They have their own lives and their own mistakes to make. Mentors are people who feel like helping others out. They’ve been through the same stuff you’re probably going through – The exam stress, the worry about colleges, about careers, about life. Maybe they had a mentor when they were starting off, or maybe they wish they had one and feel like making sure you do. They’re just there to be an objective voice, to present a different view to the same problem. To tell you how it really is, to not sugar coat things for you.

We often have problems but are too afraid to ask for help. Wouldn’t it be nice to speak to someone who’s faced it as well? If you are confused about colleges, wouldn’t it be nice to speak with someone who’s in Harvard? If you want to be an engineer, wouldn’t you want someone from Google to tell you how to get there? To be a writer, wouldn’t it be great to share a word with a published author? And that’s how mentorship programs help you out. They connect you with mentors. Literally, just that.

You might think that it’s not for you because you’re still young. But we’re more confused when we’re young. We’re carrying more questions when we’re young. We’re also up for a challenge and ready to make changes faster in our lives. We don’t feel the weight of the world yet, and it feels like an exploration. As it should.

But why mentorship for a high school student?

• It accelerates your progress by removing obstacles.

• You can test out ideas that you might not be comfortable sharing with others.

• It can help you gain clarity to find your path.

• You develop effective communication skills, chatting with people apart from your friends and

  family.

• They help you see the pitfalls that might come your way.

• It helps boost your confidence.

• Set yourself apart from the rest. It could almost be considered a 21st-century skill to have a mentor.

• You can possibly tap into the network and contacts that they have.

In your life, you will have multiple mentors. People who will come in and out of your life, to help you move just a bit more forward. This isn’t about moving mountains, but helping you gain the momentum you need, to build the life you want. And along the way, to make some new friends.

Always know that mentors come in all forms. Who or what has been a mentor for you? Share below.