I learned from a young age that there was always somebody smarter, more experienced, or further down the road than I was. Moreover, my parents encouraged me to embrace that fact as an opportunity for growth. When I was in junior high, I sought the help of high school athletes to refine my skills. When I was in high school, my parents drove several hours to have coaching sessions with a winning college hurdler. When I was in college, I looked to adults to guide my path. As a mature adult, I still seek out those with more experience to help me navigate this life. I suppose it was natural that I trained my children to always look for those older and wiser than themselves whether it be on the job, in their church or in volunteer experiences.
The willingness to always ask questions and learn from a mentor can be invaluable and is a habit to be developed from a young age. In fact, this openness can be life-changing as a person gains wisdom without making all the painful mistakes involved in figuring it out the hard way. Listening to those more experienced can open new avenues of thought, encourage, and give valuable perspective, all at the same time. Actively seeking mentors is a skill that can be trained. The natural outgrowth of that is the motivation to function as a mentor for others.
I work with many teens who are already joyfully mentoring younger students in many areas as tutors, coaches, teachers, officers in organizations, and within the context of their religious organizations. They are sharing their hard-earned insight with others, but they are also the beneficiaries. Kids who lead invariably gain maturity and confidence as they find hidden strength and untapped potential within themselves. They will be different people on the other side of an intense mentoring experience and that change is a joy to behold!
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