The Power of Mentorship

By Aniyah McLemore
FWIS Contributing Writer

An old proverb tells us ‘wisdom is better than gold and insight is better than silver’. There is power in mentorship. Oxford languages shares the definition of a mentor as ‘an experienced and trusted adviser’. A more pleasing definition of a mentor is a person who sees more within you than you can see in yourself.

Mentors can come in different forms and look very different depending on each person's needs. A good example of a mentor starts very young in a person's life. Parents often support their children as they grow and guide them through life. More specifically, a father can be a good mentor to his child as he can provide guidance and instill positive values.

During the ages 3-12 is when outside mentorship typically begins to start with people like youth leaders, coaches, teachers , and more. External mentors are beneficial because they provide an unbiased view on things that a parent might be incapable of providing at times. Third party mentors can also be helpful for a child who is uncomfortable having certain conversations with their parents. Through this connection, a child can use self discovery to learn more about themselves and build confidence.

As a high schooler who has been a mentee and mentor of many different individuals, I have seen many different things. Mentoring little girls who go through things I have never experienced showed me to not take things for granted. This has also taught me problem solving skills as I have had to figure out solutions to problems that I know nothing about. Being mentored is equally as challenging because it is hard at times to step out of my comfort zone and try a different approach at things. Although, I wouldn’t change either situation because it is very rewarding to see change in myself and my mentees over time.