The Mentor Apprenticeship

Chapter Two

The Mentor Apprenticeship

Everything has a beginning. The older you get, your new beginnings are usually based upon a history of previous beginnings. To put that another way, your life has a nautical map that will help you chart future voyages based on past journeys. Hopefully you have asked yourself why you would like to be a Mentor. Understanding the role of a Mentor is something you do before you set sail. Due diligence in planning will help you avoid a mutiny later on. In this Chapter, we will look at 2 Mentoring Apprenticeships: your beginning as a Mentee and your beginning as a Mentor.

AID to MENTOR NAVIGATION Part 3

An apprenticeship is the place where you learn a new craft or skill. Hopefully you will have a Mentor guiding you along the way. In the Mentoring business, you need to seek out a compassionate Mentor with experience. Many people find themselves in Mentoring roles throughout their lives as coaches, Scout leaders, Sunday School Teachers or many other youth serving endeavors. Learn from the people around you who have held these positions before you.

 A young man stopped into our Youth Center this evening (9-23-13) and told us about his opportunity to join Job Corps. He said he was waiting for a lady to call him about starting the application process. I told him how proud I was that he had pursued that opportunity. I then told him to make sure he called the lady back if she did not call him. I urged him to stay in relentless pursuit of that job. As a new Mentor, you must stay in relentless pursuit of anything that will make you a better Mentor. Read, study and ask a lot of questions. Did you notice that I told the young man how proud I was of his accomplishment? Young people seldom hear praise. I gave him a compliment, he smiled and then I gave him some instruction.

AID to MENTOR  NAVIGATION Part 4

Our Youth Center is a Relationship Center; young people stop in to be treated like they are special. They like to know somebody cares. There are some key phrases you can use whether it's the first time you meet somebody or you've known them your whole life.

• It's good to see you.
• How was your day?
• What was the best part of your day?
• What school do you go to?
• What's the rest of your day look like?
• I'm glad you're here today!

There are many other phrases that will make somebody feel welcome. The key is to find what works as a conversation starter. Be alert for any special talents that a young person wants to talk about. Sometimes they want to talk about frustrations.

My wife and I watched a movie the other night called: "Something The Lord Made." It's the story about a young Black man who is extremely gifted and yet he falls on hard times everywhere he turns. The story is set amidst racial prejudice in the 1940's. The young man is hired for janitorial work in a surgeon's office at Vanderbilt University. He begins to read medical books and soon demonstrates his genius to his surgeon/boss. The pair moves to Johns Hopkins where they eventually partner to perform the first heart surgery on a child with Blue Baby Syndrome. They succeed in saving the child's life and the Surgeon is recognized as a hero all over the world. His assistant still has to enter the School through the back door because he is Black. While the Surgeon is basking in glory, his assistant, the Janitor turned Lab Assistant, moonlights as a bartender to make extra money for his family. Eventually, many years later, he is recognized and given an Honorary Doctorate for his work. His relentless pursuit paid off in the end.

This story has Mentoring success all over it! It is filled with relentless pursuit of excellence. The young man began as a Mentee and quickly progressed to Mentoring his Mentor. He followed his life path and it leads him to where he made history. It was hard and he made some tough decisions. He also had a wife who watched his back and encouraged him. I always tell my students that we are both Teacher/Students because the roles may reverse at anytime. In the beginning stages of your Mentoring Apprenticeship, be alert for the tide to swing from Mentor to Mentee and then back again.  Learning is a skill that requires alertness. Be alert and be able to discern when you should talk and when you should listen. Wisdom will tell you when you should teach and when you should be taught. The greatest leader is the greatest servant. Look for ways to serve, the greatest beginning serves the greatest ending.