Have you ever met someone who challenged you in a way that helped you grow?
During my undergrad, mentorship was not something I intentionally searched for or even fully understood. Nobody ever sat me down and said, You should go find a mentor.
At that time, I was focused on doing well academically, learning, and building my future one step at a time. Along the way, I had questions, and I had a study guide who helped explain concepts, answered questions, and gave guidance when needed. Back then, I never viewed those interactions as mentorship.
But looking back now, I realize that was actually the beginning of it.
Over the years, I have had six one on one mentors. Each one has contributed to my growth in different ways, and today I'm fortunate to have two mentors who continue to guide me.
They helped me see things differently. They challenged me in ways I did not think I was capable of. Sometimes they saw potential in me before I could even see it myself.
And the interesting part is, none of these mentorships started formally.
There was no application process.
No interview.
No official title.
Most of them happened naturally through situations, conversations, and simply asking questions.
For example, one of my mentors is actually from this club, Jen.
At first, our interaction was very simple. She reviewed my speeches, answered my questions, and gave me the feedback I needed. Whenever I needed help, she was there.
She goes out of her way to evaluate my speeches at different events, whether online or in person. She is always open to my creative ideas, whether it is recording a video, writing a blog, or trying something new.
Itโs not just feedback and evaluations. She also finds thoughtful ways to encourage and support my growth.
Over time, without us formally planning it, that relationship naturally grew into mentorship. Now we meet every Monday.
What I appreciate most is not just the advice, but the consistency, encouragement, and perspective. Sometimes I walk into a conversation thinking I fully understand a situation, and then after talking with her, I realize thereโs an entirely different perspective I never considered before.
Another mentorship started during a cohort program where I was building in public in a group setting.
One day, my team lead, Mike, messaged me asking if we could have a call.
The moment I saw that message, I got scared.
My mind immediately started overthinking.
Am I being let go from the cohort?
Did I do something wrong?
Should I be worried?
I spent the whole time before the call feeling nervous.
But when we finally talked, the conversation was completely different from what I imagined.
The call was not about removing me from the cohort. It was about hearing my perspective and helping me refine the way I approached things in a way that would benefit me long term.
I'm a very analytical person, so I really appreciated that the feedback came with detailed examples instead of just vague comments.
Mike was not just pointing out problems. He explained why certain approaches were not working and how changing them could benefit me long term.
I remember being really impressed by how thoughtful and intentional the feedback was.
Even though some of it was uncomfortable to hear, I could tell the goal was growth.
One of the greatest values of mentorship is having someone who is willing to say the hard things with the intention of helping you grow.
Eventually, I reached out and asked if he would be open to having ongoing weekly calls with me until the cohort ended.
Thankfully, he said yes.
And even after the cohort ended, the mentorship continued with regular check-ins about once every other week.
And mentorship does not always have to be one on one either.
Some mentors I learn from have group mentoring sessions where people type their questions into the chat during a live session, and the mentor answers them openly.
At first, I used to think, Does this really count as mentorship?
But over time, I realized mentorship is not defined by the format.
It is defined by the growth.
Even if it is not the traditional one on one setup, if someone's guidance, wisdom, or perspective helps you grow into a better version of yourself, that is still mentorship.
Mentorship does not always begin in a formal way. Sometimes it starts with simple conversations, honest feedback, and the willingness to learn.
Sometimes it starts with one question, one meeting, or one honest conversation.
And sometimes, that one conversation can completely change the direction of your life.
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