Mentorship

(Note: this post turned out very differently than I originally intended for it to. During the process of writing it, I learned that one of my favorite people passed away. Beverly Brehl was one of my professors in college. I ended up taking 3 courses from her, and she is the one who encouraged me to think about getting in to research. For a quiet student who was intimidated by everyone and everything, it really meant a lot; with out Bev's encouragement and help, chances are I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now. She was everyone's favorite teacher. She went out of her way to help students, but held us to a very high standard. Watching her teach, you could tell she was so smart and so passionate about what she did. Even after I came to graduate school she emailed back and forth with me, just to check in. Bev was also just cool. She showed me how to knit. She had these socks that she made for herself with skulls on them. Up until she started getting really sick, she would send me little encouraging emails fairly regularly. I was a peripheral character in her life, but she was a hugely influential part of mine. So Beverly, this one's for you!)

Mentoring is something that I feel very strongly about, I think mostly because I've had great mentors my whole life. I've been really lucky and I am very grateful for all of them. I mean, what is the point of learning stuff, and more importantly learning how to learn stuff, if we're not going to share that with others?

Someone once asked me if I felt weird going in to academia because it is a selfish profession…you sit in your ivory tower all day and think about what you want to think about, and try and find support for your own ideas. I'm sure there is a reason that stereotype exists, and in the interest of full disclosure I have met some academics who are like that. But I know more who aren't, and the contrast makes it even more clear to me that to be a good academic and a good person, it is so important to be generous: generous with your time, your expertise, your thinking. Through mentoring graduate students and teaching undergraduates, (good) academics pass on their expertise, but they also listen and learn from them. (My advisor is great at that.) So no, I don't feel weird about being an academic because I don't think it is a selfish profession. I can turn in to that if you let it, but that's true of any thing. In fact, one common thread I've noticed running through the academy is the quest for understanding. I think trying to understand your fellow humans (through whatever method you choose) is pretty cool.

More important than academic mentoring is life mentoring. That sounds super cheesy. What I mean is that it's important to have people who can support and guide you in the right direction. Life is hard when you've never done it before, so…all the time. And while no two people's experiences are identical, it is helpful to have a sounding board who has had similar experiences, as well as the distance to offer a clearer perspective. I don't know about you, but I make the worst decisions in the heat of the moment. I've been lucky to have so many strong people there to talk me down from the ledge. My aunts, youth group leaders, teachers, club advisors, coaches, etc., have all given me the tools and the building materials I need to be where I am now.

Side note: ultimately we are all connected, and can learn from everyone we meet. And part of a successful mentor-mentoree relationship is bidirectionality. What I mean is that we all should be open to and learn from each other…it's a two way street.

Mentoring is also kind of a pay-it-forward deal. I just hope that one day I can do for someone what so many others have done for me. And to all those out there who have mentored me, thank you!