I wrote this essay this past week for an essay competition on mentoring. One of the requirements in writing the essay was to tell about a mentor who is most evident in my life, so I chose Mother. (It's somewhat of a draft, but I still decided to post it.)

 

 

“Mentoring Matters”

by Faith Barry

      Mentoring matters because the advice of adults has great impact on young people.  Don't we want

our generation impacted for the better?  With good mentors that can and will happen.  We all need

superior advice, encouragement from others and good examples set for us, or our generation would

crumble.

      A mentor is a trusted advisor.  Everyone of us is in need of a mentor, because we all make decisions,

have questions and need advice from those whom we trust.

      A mentor encourages his/her mentee.  The mentor who is largely evident in my life, is my mother.

Plato once said, “Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness, but direct them to it by what

amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the

genius of each.”  My mother is so good at just that.  She helps us find our loves and then encourages us

to pursue and work hard at whatever that may be.

      Mentors set the example through their service.  “Remember that mentor leadership is all about

serving. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be serve but to serve others and to give his

life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).”  My mother is a wonderful leader, and at the same time a

servant, who daily gives of her time for me in many different ways.  By that she sets an example for me.

To rephrase, mentors give sound advice, encourage and set wholesome examples.  Each of us, in our

daily lives, has the opportunity to be a mentor, either to a cousin, younger sibling or friend. Why don't

we take the opportunity.  Is not one life impacted worth ten?