This article is adapted from Davidson Institute’s “Mentoring Guidebook”, part of our collection of free guidebooks for gifted and 2e families. For a deeper dive into supporting your gifted or twice-exceptional child, we encourage you to explore the full guide.
What is a mentorship?
Webster defines a mentorship as “a formal relationship between a student and a professional adult to further the student’s knowledge, skills, or career (Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English, 2003-2005). Variations of this definition abound, with the main focal point being individualized, focused attention to further a student’s knowledge and abilities in an area of interest.
A mentorship is defined as a one-on-one learning relationship between a student and an expert in a specific topic or discipline. The mentor supports and guides the student to develop in that area of interest.
Torrance (1984) offers these additional descriptions:
- A mentor is a creatively productive person who teaches, counsels, and inspires a student with similar interests. The relationship is characterized by mutual caring, depth, and response.
- A mentoring relationship is a close, individualized relationship that develops over time between a student and teacher-figure.
- The mentor-mentee relationship is one of mutual respect and commitment. Students work with their mentors to develop their scholarly interests into research directions and design. Mentoring is a serious commitment of time and effort.
- Mentors are people with career experiences willing to share their knowledge, acting as a source of information. They give their support, encouragement and feedback.
Others describe a mentorship as a special bond, a role model connection and a developmental process. A mentorship can have different meanings for different people. Whichever meaning it has for you, the bottom line is that a mentorship is a unique relationship that should enrich the lives of both individuals involved.
Why Mentoring?
Are you asking yourself this question? Before you do anything else, decide if any of the following statements describe your situation:
- “I want to learn about what it’s like to work in [fill in the blank], but I don’t know whom to ask.”
- “I need help with career planning and goals.”
- “I’m curious about several different career fields, but I don’t know which one would be best for me.”
- “I have a project or idea and I would like to find others who are interested in working with me.”
If any of these situations are similar to yours…you may benefit from working with a mentor!
When you think of a mentorship, what comes to mind?
- Are you interested in a specific field?
- Have you exhausted your resources in studying a particular topic but still want to learn more?
- Are you looking for a stimulating educational experience?
- Are you looking into a possible career path?
- Would you like to work on an in-depth project?
- Do you have an idea, but are not quite sure where to start?
- Are you looking to give back to the community?
- All of the above
A mentorship can be all of the above characteristics and then some, depending on what you would like to do with your time. A mentorship can be a time-consuming event as well as a rewarding one. Are you ready for this challenge?
According to a study of presidential scholars from 1964-1968, Kaufman (1981) reviewed the benefits that come from having a mentor include gaining a role model and having someone to offer support and encouragement in the mentee’s pursuit in an area of interest. These presidential scholars stated that the best mentors set an example, offered intellectual stimulation, and communicated excitement and joy in the learning process.
As noted by Gallager (1985), with mentoring, students can find direction, gain maturity and focus on the future by associating with someone who has not just been there and done that, but has succeeded.
Berger (1990) observed that by sharing time, talents and experiences, mentors and students can develop close relationships in which both parties collaborate and learn from one another. Often, mentors and mentees view one another as friends and colleagues rather than a student and teacher.
According to Ambrose, Allen, and Huntley (1994), the mentor relationship can be equally as valuable for mentors who learn more about giving from the heart and appreciate the positive impact they provide to blossoming students. Mentors find value in nurturing a young person who has the potential to make a difference in this world.
Mentoring is important to students not only for the knowledge and skills gained, but also for the professional socialization and personal support that are needed to facilitate success in the field and beyond. By all means, participating in a mentorship does not mean you have to turn this into your career path or even your college major. You may participate in a mentorship and decide that particular field is not for you.
Am I ready for a mentorship?
So how do you choose a mentorship? What do you do if you are interested in many different fields? What do you do if you are good at many different things? This can be a difficult task for many. Luckily, there are many tools available to help guide your decision; but ultimately, you most likely know more than what a book or online assessment can tell you. Here are a few important questions to ask yourself:
- What am I currently passionate about?
- What motivates me?
- What am I currently involved in?
- Do I have the time, energy, and dedication to commit to a mentorship?
- What subject do I always appreciate learning? If there is more than one, try narrowing down the field. For example, if you enjoy science, try to pinpoint a specific science field or topic. Look into the possibilities. Please see the Resource Section (page 28-30) for career and interest surveys. Also fill out the Interest Inventory starting on page 7
Potential Pitfalls
There are many reasons mentor relationships do not work out well, such as:
- the initial screening process not identifying either suitable mentors or young people with enough commitment to, or interest in being mentored
- if the mentors have access to a training session, it may not be addressing common fears or giving enough information on the intensity of the mentoring project, or the training may be run at an inconvenient time for the mentor
- Insufficient ongoing support to mentors
- The matching process not working
There are at least three areas that need particular attention in any mentoring relationship:
- Time – Studies have found that finding the time and energy for mentoring pairs to get together is a great obstacle. Take advantage of email, fax, telephone, etc., as ways of staying in touch. Email especially allows for relatively short but more frequent contact between the participants.
- Knowledge/Skills – After you have located a mentor, you may discover that it is not a good match after all, or you may want assistance in an area in which the mentor does not feel particularly competent to advise. In this situation, you can politely and respectfully explain your specific need and ask your mentor if he/she feels comfortable assisting you in locating another individual whose expertise may be more helpful for your particular interest. If things do not work out, you can contact another potential mentor.
- Over-dependence – Over-dependence can go in either direction in a mentoring relationship. Given the busy schedule of a mentor, it is not wise for a mentee to become over-dependent on the mentor. It is helpful for you to realize and eventually anticipate the end of the formal mentoring relationship, although it’s always nice for the former mentee to have someone to go to for advice at any time in the future.
Alternatives to Mentorship
If you do not feel ready to pursue a mentorship at this time, what other alternatives are available?
- Research. You may not be ready for a mentorship now, but what are your options at a later date?
- Create a time line and set goals for yourself.
- Try volunteering first. Start with an area of interest and go from there. Are there opportunities available within your community?
- Try an extra curricular activity. You may not be ready for a mentorship, but how about leadership opportunities?
- Independent study.
- Enrichment opportunities from your teacher.
- Relax. Just because you may not be in a position to start a mentorship now, doesn’t mean there will not be opportunities at a later date.
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