AN INTRODUCTION
What is a mentor?
As a mentor you are a guide, friend and resource who shares your education and professional experience to help pave the way for students to succeed at Mary Washington and beyond. A mentor derives satisfaction from helping Mary Washington students fulfill their potential.
As a Mentor You Play Several Roles, Including:
-Motivator: Expresses belief and confidence in the mentee’s abilities, and encourages the mentee to try new things.
-Resource: Teaches and advises the mentee on how to make professional contacts, and introduces the mentee to new people, places or ideas.
-Supporter: Encourages open and honest dialogue, and listens to and responds to the needs of the mentee.
-Coach: Helps the mentee develop, and work to achieve, realistic and meaningful goals.
The Mentoring Relationship
For mentoring to be successful there must be a reciprocal, comfortable relationship between mentor and mentee. Both parties must work at the relationship to make it successful by being open-minded, respectful and keeping to the expectations they have set for the relationship. Ideally, the mentoring relationship will be a mutually beneficial one; as the mentor learns from the mentee and the mentee from the mentor.