Meaningful Mentors

“We learned about gratitude and humility - that so many people had a hand in our success." ~ Michelle Obama

During my undergraduate training, I was blessed to work with and learn from teachers in schools all around the city. These experiences were invaluable to me. As I was fresh and eager to become a teacher, I gained so much wisdom from these individuals along with many other people who would become mentors and coaches to me. I learned instructional strategies and organizational methods. From them, I also felt valued, empowered, and respected. I wanted to tightly hold onto their words, actions, and demeanor toward others.

So I began a practice that I continue to this day. If someone positively impacts me through an interaction we’ve share - perhaps they really made me feel seen or heard, shared a laugh with me, or welcomed me to be fully myself - I write down that person’s name, how they made me feel, and what they did to make me feel that way. Then I have a clear approach to try to be that way for someone else.

Here is one example from a dear friend and advisor. He has an incredible way of showing others that he respects their time and communication. I have never met someone who responds to emails as promptly as he does! It may not seem like a big deal, but whenever I’ve had a question or concern, receiving a reply right away brings me peace of mind and shows me that I am worth his immediate time. While I am certainly not the quickest to respond to communication (just ask those closest to me!), noticing what I appreciate about my friend helps me to become more intentional about building this skill of communication in my own life.

Day #29: Reflect on a mentor or leader who has made an impact on your life. 

Action Item: Find a way to reach out to them and thank them.