On January 17, International Mentoring Day fosters a global understanding of the mentoring movement throughout the world. The day also raises awareness for the global contributions of mentoring.
Mentoring usually involves a more knowledgeable person sharing wisdom with someone who has less experience. Mentors share their skills in the workplace, schools, places of worship, and professional organizations.
Wherever one might need guidance, there are usually mentors. Those who are mentors usually find the position to be rewarding, too. Mentoring is also a great way to influence young people.
Being a mentee comes with many benefits, including:
- Increased chance of graduating from high school
- Healthier relationships with others and make better lifestyle choices
- Better attitude about school
- Improved self-esteem, self-confidence, and behavior
- Less likely to abuse alcohol or drugs
It’s not just the mentees that will benefit, however. Mentors feel good about impacting another person’s life and future. Mentoring can also help them gain a new perspective about certain problems. Being a mentor even improves communication and leadership skills.
As you can see, both the mentor and the mentee greatly benefit from this type of relationship, including some of the most famous mentoring relationships:
- Maya Angelou mentored Oprah Winfrey.
- Steve Jobs mentored Mark Zuckerberg.
- Woodie Guthrie mentored Bob Dylan.
Some of the most influential men and women attribute their success to having a mentor. Men and women like Mother Teresa, Ansel Adams, Walter Cronkite, Colin Powell, and Sally Ride.
