Why You Need a Mentor & How to Get One
Written by Abi Broda, Assistant Director
If you have followed our LinkedIn page, you saw our post about why you need a mentor and the impact they can have on your life. We wanted to expand on this topic – and help students understand what a mentor really is, what to look for in this person, and how to find one.
What’s the difference between a Mentor and an Advisor?
Most LU students are familiar with their Professional Advisor from CASAS. They are a great resource as they know the ins and outs of each degree program and have experts who have been through it there to help you. So, yes, you should still meet with your CASAS advisor.
A Mentor might not know all the minor details of your degree program. This person is there as your support and to talk big picture thinking for your life. They really know you on a personal level and have walked the same paths of life ahead of you. They get to know your interests and personality. They help you grow and think about what the big plan (aka God’s plan) is for your life. With this open and welcoming dialogue, they can start to help you think through making your own decisions about your degree, your job choices, your relationship choices, and everything in between. They can share honest life experiences, keep you accountable, and improve the quality of your life.
Why do you need a Mentor?
Everyone needs a mentor because life is hard and having someone there to help can be life-changing. For example, when you come to college and you aren’t sure about your degree or you realize you hate the program you thought you were going to love (that was me my first year here at LU), a mentor is who you can go to help think this through. Beyond school, a mentor is a person you have a relationship and bond with. They are a person who can help you in all areas of life, for all of life.
It can be helpful to have a person in this capacity who is not related to you. Not that relatives can’t help but having someone who is unbiased hear you talk and think through decisions; someone who respects you as an adult and can help you gain confidence and follow God’s calling for your life.
A great Biblical example of mentorship is Timothy and Titus. Give their story a read for inspiration or a Bible study.
How do you find a Mentor?
First, pray for this person to enter your life and for God to make it clear to you who that is. You can also test the waters with different people through conversation and opening up to them little by little. Some questions to ask them are: Are you happy in life? What is the best advice about ____ you were ever given? What was the best career move you ever took? If you could do something different during your college years what would it have been? The greatest thing about finding a mentor is building a relationship with them.
Qualities to look for in a Mentor
Everyone is different. So the dynamic between Mentor and Mentee is going to be different for everyone. There are a few qualities to look for:
- Are they a Believer? What does their walk with Christ look like?
- Does their personality mesh with yours well?
- Are they eager to invest in others?
- Can they give honest, constructive feedback to you?
- Consider if it is important to you that they are in the same career field or path of life that you want to be in.
- What is their reputation like?
