You Need a Mentor

Sometimes it feels a little awkward to build a relationship with an adult who isn’t a relative. However, finding a mentor during high school is one of the best things you can do for yourself! Here are a few quick tips if you need help finding someone who you can turn to for advice about school, family or careers.

Who Can My Mentor Be?

For example, they can be a teacher, coach, guidance counselor, religious leader or club organizer whom you admire. Look around and see who you want to be like. Your mentor can even be an upperclassman or a college student, so you can feel comfortable and learn from them.

What’s My Mentor Supposed to Teach Me?

Your mentor will act as a role model for you by giving advice when you need it, setting a good example and helping you grow as a person. In the short-term, your mentor is someone you can go to if you’re having academic or personal problems, plus they can suggest colleges or classes and help with the application process. Your mentor can even tell you about scholarships or write you a recommendation letter. 

But It's Awkward to Ask Someone to be My Mentor

Luckily, there’s a way to find a mentor without feeling weird about it. Start visiting the person you look up to regularly during their office hours. If they’re an older student, ask if you can get together over coffee or lunch to chat. Make it a habit to have one-on-one conversations with these individuals regularly and you’ll soon easily develop a mentor-mentee relationship.

Make it your goal to find at least one person you can call a mentor this year. There are plenty of interesting, accomplished people in your life, but it’s up to you to get out there and build those relationships.