on mentoring
i just got back from my mentoring session. this is my second week into the program, and i'm lovin' it!
our company runs a program that sponsors promising students and saves up for their college tuition... as long as they stay out of jail, away from drugs, and in school, and has a mentor from our company. so far, we have at least 40 employees volunteering as mentors to these kids. some are mentoring in high school. others, like me, in middle school.
the young lady i am mentoring is a pretty good 7th grade student. she's a math wiz, a member of the dance club, a gymnast, a cheerdancer, and a member of the student government. on top of it, she's pretty and easy to talk to. she likes mystery books like nancy drew, dresses up like a popstar like sarah g. (oh yeah! maisingit lang eh! hehehe!), and talks with sense like me. (me, on my good days) =P
we meet on thursdays, during their lunch. we usually take up most of the time talking, so she really have to eat fast. as for me, i eat at home before heading to their school. to sum it all up, i'm out of the office for 2.5 hours on thursdays. right now, it is a blessing for me, since wala naman ako masyadong ginagawa. it's a fruitful way to pass time. hehehe! but i'm expecting it's gonna be a little hard when the real work in the office comes in. but i know i'll get by. it will take a little getting used to, but it'll be fine.
i like the idea of having somebody younger to hang out with. somebody whose innocence is not yet marred by the cruelties of this world. maybe i could learn a lesson or two from her, while she also learns about real life outside school from me. we were not expected to preach, but to inspire. we were not supposed to teach, but lead by example. we were not even encouraged to talk, but to listen. these kids want and need to be heard. their dreams, their aspirations in life. they need someone to look up to, and at the same time, to confide to. we mentors are supposed to be those "big sisters/big brothers" to them. and as big sisters/big brothers, we need to earn their trust, and keep them.
the first time i encountered becoming a mentor was at work in SPI. being one of the few employees left who have been with the team for at least 2 years, i was tasked to mentor 2(?) junior developers. i was still a junior developer at that time, pero nagfe-feeling senior na ko non, dahil nga naubos na yung seniors because of a wave of resignation. =P that kind of mentoring is a bit different. i need to know a bit more technical stuff than the ones i am mentoring. i need to show them how things work within the team. it was probably one of the smarter moves our team took. i learned important lessons from my mentees, and they learned some of my "tricks" at work. most importantly, i gained good friends. and as a mentor, it's fulfilling to see your mentees soar high. it feels good when they accomplish something good. you feel proud of them.
essentially, mentoring is not about academics, it's about life's lessons. with just 26 years of experience, and a lot of prayers, i look forward to touching a young person's life. and just the same, i'm prepared to be touched by an angel. =)
our company runs a program that sponsors promising students and saves up for their college tuition... as long as they stay out of jail, away from drugs, and in school, and has a mentor from our company. so far, we have at least 40 employees volunteering as mentors to these kids. some are mentoring in high school. others, like me, in middle school.
the young lady i am mentoring is a pretty good 7th grade student. she's a math wiz, a member of the dance club, a gymnast, a cheerdancer, and a member of the student government. on top of it, she's pretty and easy to talk to. she likes mystery books like nancy drew, dresses up like a popstar like sarah g. (oh yeah! maisingit lang eh! hehehe!), and talks with sense like me. (me, on my good days) =P
we meet on thursdays, during their lunch. we usually take up most of the time talking, so she really have to eat fast. as for me, i eat at home before heading to their school. to sum it all up, i'm out of the office for 2.5 hours on thursdays. right now, it is a blessing for me, since wala naman ako masyadong ginagawa. it's a fruitful way to pass time. hehehe! but i'm expecting it's gonna be a little hard when the real work in the office comes in. but i know i'll get by. it will take a little getting used to, but it'll be fine.
i like the idea of having somebody younger to hang out with. somebody whose innocence is not yet marred by the cruelties of this world. maybe i could learn a lesson or two from her, while she also learns about real life outside school from me. we were not expected to preach, but to inspire. we were not supposed to teach, but lead by example. we were not even encouraged to talk, but to listen. these kids want and need to be heard. their dreams, their aspirations in life. they need someone to look up to, and at the same time, to confide to. we mentors are supposed to be those "big sisters/big brothers" to them. and as big sisters/big brothers, we need to earn their trust, and keep them.
the first time i encountered becoming a mentor was at work in SPI. being one of the few employees left who have been with the team for at least 2 years, i was tasked to mentor 2(?) junior developers. i was still a junior developer at that time, pero nagfe-feeling senior na ko non, dahil nga naubos na yung seniors because of a wave of resignation. =P that kind of mentoring is a bit different. i need to know a bit more technical stuff than the ones i am mentoring. i need to show them how things work within the team. it was probably one of the smarter moves our team took. i learned important lessons from my mentees, and they learned some of my "tricks" at work. most importantly, i gained good friends. and as a mentor, it's fulfilling to see your mentees soar high. it feels good when they accomplish something good. you feel proud of them.
essentially, mentoring is not about academics, it's about life's lessons. with just 26 years of experience, and a lot of prayers, i look forward to touching a young person's life. and just the same, i'm prepared to be touched by an angel. =)
posted by beng at
2:26 PM
5 Comments:
that's a very fulfilling way to touch somebody's life, to be a good example and to inspire. i think the most tempting part is to give advice or to talk, you know we tend to always give our two cents so kudos to you for being a good listener. :)
By
Anonymous, at 10:07 PM
ako yun! hehehe :)
By
Anonymous, at 12:39 AM
oops! just in case may misunderstanding, ako po yung galing SPI :)
By
Anonymous, at 12:51 AM
hehehe! *LOL @ monja!*
i'm notorious for giving unsolicited advise, kaya challenge din sa akin itong mentoring. i need to talk less and listen more. =P
By
beng, at 11:26 AM
Kudos to you Harbs for doing this!
By
Binut/Keyt, at 3:35 AM
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