Mentoring Blues

I just received a scolding from my mom a while ago about a neighbor I have been mentoring for some time now. I have known this kid ever since she was a kid and I'm happy to see how she has grown to be a very kind and intelligent lady through the years. I really enjoy the moments we spend talking with each other because of the jolly, candid and insightful ways she directs our discussions.

It caused me great sadness to know that her grandmother was very upset with the academic advises I was giving her. Her grandmother's family and my family have been friends for decades and this is the first time that a family friend became angry for something that I did. Truth be known all I ever advised her to do was to be active in order to reach leadership positions in her organizations, participate in national youth conferences and of course, to always study hard. Was there anything wrong with saying such things?

In all fairness I do understand her grandmother. They don't have much and adding extra curricular activities on the bill can really cause a financial mess in their lives. Given such conditions I still feel that she's on the right track. She needs all the credentials she could so that she can have the best job possible. No good company will hire a mediocre, so-so candidate even if they graduated from an ivy league school. lots of students graduate from ivy league schools anyway so what makes her special? I'll tell you what, it's the extra curricular activities, of course. That's what makes all the difference because it shows a candidate's interpersonal dimensions which can never be written in a resume. Active and extensive participation in organizational matters entails great people skills. That added with brains makes a person an ideal candidate.Not to mention the numerous friends and contacts you could make by simply engaging in such activities. These are things that a lot of students fail to see.

I guess I better leave her be. I never had the right to meddle in their life anyway. Of course, I'll still help her in any way I can. I do not have the heart to turn down a person in need. I'll just keep a little distance just to maintain the peace. I'm sure that she has learned enough from me. All she has to do is to be the best person she could possibly be.

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Illustrations Cited:

Mentoring Illustration by Samantha Dellinger (http://www.yorkblog.com/artist/graphic_arts/)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri
(http://www.rmhccolumbia.org/Volunteers.html)