Mentoring Students … Some Advice and Tips

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

- Pablo Picasso

It is the season of school graduations and getting ready for the next big step in the lives of the leaders of our future generation. Mentoring students is certainly an interest in this agency. Make no mistake, getting ready to move out into society is a much more difficult proposition than it was in my day. (I am a firm believer that age doesn’t matter unless you let it. But, let’s just skip how many years it has been since my ‘big step’.)

So, with this in mind, here are recommendations and advice for mentoring students that we recommend:

Learn how to learn … note, in all likelihood, most of us have not mastered this one yet. And when you think you have it down, new technology will come along to add access to more information. None-the-less, we will spend our life on this one, so you might as well start as soon as possible.

Practice the art of asking good questions … I know, I know, we thought the tough act was getting the answers nailed. Yes, that is difficult. But asking really good questions is more important. It starts with being a good listener.

Think different … try and explore new ideas without bringing your old ideas along for the ride. Stand out to be heard. Never reject ideas just because you will not agree with them. Examine and study thoughts before setting them aside.

Have fun … remember learning won’t all come from your books and professors. We will constantly need to remind ourselves about the importance of having a good balance in life.

Be curious about everything … this is where the good questions are needed. This is also a key source of learning.

Get into an internship program as soon as possible … mixing in real-world experiences and learning is vital to understanding the bigger picture. It will also help to explore new things and find what you love to do.

Don’t fear failure … everyone who has ever accomplished things in life has had many failures along the way. The key is how to learn from the failure to keep moving forward.

Be a never-ending reader of lots of new things … always trying something new. Get your mind exploring, reading will be an important source of your lifetime learning.

Develop a strong imagination … dream (yes even daydream … they are the best kind of dreams) … dreams will help you find what we love.

Wear your enthusiasm and passion … show how you feel. Our attitude and emotions are the first signs to others of who we really are and how we are made.

Yes, there are probably many valuable things that different people will add. It will carry far beyond your school days … revisit it often. Let it keep you focused on the big learning picture.