Mentoring

Left: me helping my mentee, Lisa, with her mortarboard, June 2010.

This week mentoring was a big part of my life. I have many mentees, some still in high school, some in college, and some who have graduated college. One of my high school mentees is making his own decisions right now and they don't really have to do with school. He knows I'm here when he's ready to talk about school again. This is the hard part of mentoring -- letting go. . .

Reflecting on failures is a big part of mentoring: what did you learn from your failure? what decisions led to your failure? how will you do things differently next time, and will you do things differently?

One of my college mentees texted me this week asking for motivation. She's almost done with the quarter. So I called and talked with her about remembering the ultimate goal, which is to graduate college. And also how good it feels when you get a task done and how it's just like a monkey on your back when you're procrastinating.

I had lunch with another college mentee today. Listened, asked questions, dispensed a little advice, caught up on each other's lives. Tomorrow I will have lunch with another college mentee.

In CLASS, the freshmen and sophies continued to work on their personal statements. We are beginning to delve down into major events in their lives, so it's starting to get a little emotional. I love these writing assignments because I always learn so much about my students.

The Juniors talked about how to stay motivated at this time of the year. I reminded them that this time next year they will be graduating! I put the picture in their minds of them in their caps and gowns, walking across the stage at the Tacoma Dome. They all just started grinning and one of them said, "Yes!" It was so precious.

The seniors did a comparison analysis of 3 local banks or credit unions. It was useful, though not very exciting.

Tomorrow I will go to one of our Hilltop Scholars' college graduation. I am so looking forward to that!