Celebrate National Mentoring Month!

I’ve been very blessed to have great mentors in my life. Some of them were assigned through formal processes and others I connected with by chance. My mentors are people I turn to when I’m in need of professional, personal, and spiritual development. I’m who I am today because of the relationships I’ve developed with these wonderful people. My mentors come from all walks of life and different professional levels. I’m thankful for the many conversations in which they’ve challenged me to think critically and for providing a space that allowed me to be vulnerable.

My first official experience as a mentee was through the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program. At the time I didn’t know much about NASPA or student affairs. Through the relationship I built with my NUFP Mentor I grew to have a better understanding of the field that was capturing my heart. My mentor invested time to help me apply to graduate programs and even worked to secure funding so I could attend the NASPA Diversity Multicultural Institute. My first NASPA conference! We grew together and developed a relationship that was more than just about our mutual interest in student affairs. I truly valued the bond we created. It was a bond I wished to carry forward with the students I would eventually work with in the future.

Understanding the benefits and value of mentoring is not breaking news. National Mentoring Month was originally created and recognized in 2002, in collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership. The organization was created to, “focus national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us- individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits, can work together to increase the number of mentors to assure positive outcomes for young people.”

Recently, President Obama made a proclamation in support of these initiatives and declared January 2015 as National Mentoring Month. In his announcement he pointed out several ways in which having a mentor can help with the growth and development of an individual. Multiple events have been highlighted throughout the month to promote the benefits of mentoring. Many local organizations and programs were encouraged to plan their own activities. Nationally there were four events promoted to support the month

January 8^th: “I am a Mentor Day”

January 15^th: “Thank Your Mentor Day”

January 19^th: MLK Jr. National Day of Service

January 28^th-30^th: National Mentoring Summit

Additional information about the events above and ways you can connected and involved with the organization can be found on the National Mentoring website (www.nationalmentoringmonth.org) Although the official “Thank Your mentor” day has passed, it’s never too late to express your gratitude to the people who have made an impact on your life.

 Take some time out of your day to say thank you to those who matter the most in your life!