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WHAT IS A MENTOR?
A mentor is an adult with the experience necessary to support and guide you through the self-directed learning plan you create. If you get stuck, or run into difficulties, your mentor will be the first person you reach out to to find a solution. The ideal mentor is someone who is knowledgeable, willing to guide you, and available to help.
Who can be a mentor?
Who can be a mentor?
Ideally, your mentor is an adult who works within, or has experience within the field you want to explore. For example, if you want to intern at an orthodontist’s office, you would want a mentor from the office where your internship takes place. If you want to learn how to build a shed, and your neighbor built a shed in his yard, he might be a good mentor, even if he isn’t a carpenter. If you want to develop a new app based on what you learned in one of your classes, you might want to ask your teacher from that class to be your mentor.
Can a parent be a mentor?
Can a parent be a mentor?
If your parent has experience in the field you want to explore, then yes, your parent can be your mentor. However, if your parent does not have experience in the field you want to explore, we strongly advise you to seek out another person to be your mentor.
What are the responsibilities of a mentor?
What are the responsibilities of a mentor?
The type of experience you develop and propose will determine the specific responsibilities of your mentor. It is important that you communicate with your mentor what the expectations are when you ask them to be your mentor. Internships will require you to work directly with your mentor for long periods of time. Your mentor may be the one who creates your weekly schedule of activities in an internship. However, if you develop a Senior Capstone proposal that is more independent, you may only need weekly check-ins. It is also important that you and your mentor discuss the required weekly timesheets and reflections. Some mentors will want to discuss these with you before you submit them, so you and your mentor need to establish that expectation together.
How do you get a mentor?
How do you get a mentor?
It is your responsibility to reach out and ask. When you reach out to a potential mentor, it is important that you explain who you are, what your project is, and how much time you will need from them. If you ask someone to be your mentor, and they say, “Sure I’d love to hear more.” That does not mean you have a mentor. That means you have a person who is willing to consider the possibility of being your mentor, but they need more information from you. It is your responsibility to provide that information for them.
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