In the McNair experience, mentors are front and
central. They are an integral part of
the experience because they provide expertise, offer support and encouragement,
and many times, open doors of opportunity that might seem impossible
today. It’s not to say that the mentor
relationship can “make or break you” – but having a good one can make all the
difference.
A good mentor will:
- Teach you how to do research in your field
- Expand your knowledge of the field
- Teach you how to ask questions – good questions!
- Model what it’s like to be a professional in the field
- Lend their expertise, wisdom and insights
- Share their experiences and relate them to your own
- Challenge and support you at the same time
- Give you constructive feedback and encourage you to do more
- Connect you with colleagues and other professionals to help
you network
- Help you figure out your path
- Help you make good choices about your education and work
opportunities
- Call you out when you’re not holding up “your end of the
deal”
So, how do you set out to have the best possible mentor
relationship?
Well, you try your hardest
to be true to yourself, you put forward your energy and enthusiasm, you be
respectful and then you let go.
No one
has the power to control others.
All you
can do is put yourself out there in an honest way and hope that your mentor
will be a good fit for you.
And if it’s
not?
You move along and find yourself
the next mentor who WILL be a great fit for you!
Holding up your end of the deal:
- Connect with your mentor regularly and in person
- Come prepared with a list of 2-3 major items you would like
to discuss
- Come prepared with your “homework” or “to do list” completed
from your last mentor meeting
- Be honest with your mentor if you are not quite
understanding a research task or how it fits within the bigger picture of your
project
- It’s useful to step back and review the “big picture” from
time to time to make sure it’s fresh in your mind
- BE ON TIME ALL THE TIME!
- Focus on your work together and not personal problems and
issues---it’s good to get your know mentor on a personal level (this tends to
happen naturally, over a period of time)---but keep the focus of your
conversations on your research
- If something isn’t working for you or you can’t make a
scheduled meeting, just be honest and get in touch with your mentor well
beforehand to discuss
- Make sure you know how your mentor likes to be contacted---mostly
through email, have they offered you their cell phone number, do they
text? In general, you should only
call/text (if that’s okay with them) during “normal business hours” and not
super early in the morning or super late at night! You can always send an email.
- Go above and beyond.
Let your mentor see your passion by not just doing exactly what they
say---take their guidance as a starting point and then run with it---this is
truly the basis of a burgeoning researcher at heart!
- Most important: have fun, work hard and enjoy the process…
