Hey there, students! Are you feeling overwhelmed and unsure about how to navigate your academic and personal journey? Well, have we got a podcast episode for you!
In this episode, we're diving into the world of mentorship and how it can benefit students like you. We'll be hearing from real students who have had mentors and how it has positively impacted their lives.
But that's not all, we'll also be discussing different types of mentorship and how you can find a mentor that's the right fit for you. So, if you're ready to level up your student experience and gain some valuable insights, make sure to tune in and share this episode with your peers!
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Speaker 1:
Welcome, sweet friend. Welcome to the College and Career Ready podcast. I'm your host, sonia Casique. I'm so thrilled to have you join me for this second episode of our two-part series on the power of mentorship. In this series, we will explore the importance of having a mentor and the benefits of having someone guide you through your academic and personal journey. Listen, friend, I know you have a lot of options when it comes to how you spend your time, so I want to start by thanking you for choosing to tune in today. We're going to have a great time together and I promise to make it worth your while.
Speaker 1:
Whether you're listening, while you're studying, commute or just need a break, I hope this episode will be both informative and entertaining. So if you're ready to level up your student experience and gain some valuable insights, make sure and share this episode with your peers. So last week, on our first part episode of this two-part series, we explored the importance of mentorship and how it can help us achieve our goals and dreams. Mentorship is a process of building a relationship between a more experienced and knowledgeable person, known as the mentor, and a less experienced person, the mentee. The mentor provides guidance, advice and support to help the mentee achieve their goals. If you have not checked out last week's episode, make sure you do, my friend. So pause this episode now or make sure to listen to it after you. Listen to this one, because today we'll be discussing how you can find a mentor that's the right fit for you.
Speaker 1:
As students, we face many challenges and uncertainties, whether it's choosing a career path, navigating college life or figuring out how to balance your academic and personal responsibilities. That's where mentorship comes in. A mentor is someone who has been through similar experiences and can provide guidance, support and advice based on their own experiences. And let me tell you, my friend, we have had various career professionals and even students in our podcast who come and share some of their success with us, and in each and every one of these interviews, they have shared with us, in one way or another, how they have benefited from having a mentor. I promise, if you listen closely to our guest interviews, you will find a pattern of mentorship in each of these episodes. So if they're successful and they have resource to mentors, why would you not? And as we talk about mentorship, always keep in mind that there are different types of mentorship, from formal mentorship programs to informal relationships that develop naturally, so keep that in mind as you explore your options.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so, first off, I'm going to brainstorm with you a few places you can find mentors. This, hopefully, will start getting you to think outside the box. The first place you can start is your academic institution. You can approach your professors or academic advisors teachers and ask for their guidance or recommendations for a mentor in your field of interest. Consider your academic institution, your professors, teachers, counselors and academic advisors because they are there to support you and they may be able to recommend a mentor in your field of interest. Another option is to join a professional association or organization related to your field, and you know, google is right at your fingertips and it will be a great place to start. Many of these groups offer mentorship programs or can connect you with a professional in your field who can serve as a mentor.
Speaker 1:
Have you heard of LinkedIn? It's a great platform to network and connect with professionals in your field. You can reach out to individuals who you admire and ask if they would be interested in meeting with you or sharing more about their career experience with you. Don't forget about your alumni network too. If you're not in college yet, check with your schools of interest and their student services. They will be able to connect you with their alumni network. This network can be a valuable resource in finding a mentor. Reach out to alumni in your field and ask if they would be willing to mentor you.
Speaker 1:
Lastly, your personal network, my sweet friend, your family, friends and colleagues. Ask them if they know anyone who would be a good fit as a mentor for you. This actually reminds me of a close friend who, his son, is interested in a career as a nurse. In our conversation I brought up maybe to consider or look into a career as a physician assistant. It was actually something pretty new to them and they wanted to get more information about that specific career. Thankfully, I actually have a neighbor who is a PA and I quickly connected them both. I think they've already been in contact and hopefully my neighbor will be able to guide this student who is interested in this career field of study.
Speaker 1:
Now, of course, whether it's looking for a mentor at your school or from a network of friends, you will have to just ask. I know this might be the hardest part but, as I mentioned last week, there are many, yes many people out there that are willing and wanting to help students just like you. So don't be afraid and just ask. If you're struggling with this, feel free to send me a DM at soniacasique and that is S-O-N-I-AC-A-C-I-Q-U-E. I will personally share with you some tips that I might recommend for the field of study that you're interested in.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so those were a few places to start sparking some ideas for you, but I also want to mention that finding a mentor doesn't have to be something official. It can also mean just you meeting someone or messaging with them for some questions or guidance. This is especially true when you're just not quite sure yet what career you want to pursue and you're just exploring your options. Let's call it the speed dating approach. Set up a series of 10-minute meetings with professionals in your field of interest, get them prepared with a list of questions and use this time to get to know them and ask for advice. Go in with an open mind. You never know who you might hit it off with. Just make sure you follow up with anyone who you feel the connection so you can start to build that relationship.
Speaker 1:
And if you're totally about using technology which I'm sure you are you can find an influencer on Instagram who you admire and who is in your desired field of study, slide into their DMs and ask if they would be interested in guiding you or answering some questions Something super unofficial and, who knows, they might just say yes. Now, of course, if you have a more defined career focus, then absolutely this is when you want to take it to the next level and develop a long term mentorship relationship with them. Hopefully this has given you a couple of ideas, some thoughts, some interests, and I challenge you to start looking for that mentor or that person that you can just reach out to and start asking some questions, whether you are exploring options or you want to define the career choice that you are thinking of. I hope you found this two-part series both informative and motivating for you. I promise, friend, you can't go wrong with asking.
Speaker 1:
Let me know your thoughts on this conversation. I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me on Instagram at soniacasiquetca, or join our brand new Facebook College and Career Ready podcast group. That's right, friend, we are now on Facebook too, a place where we can stay in touch through this journey. I will have that link on our show notes, or just DM me and I will send it to you. And that's it for today's episode. My friend, I hope you enjoyed these fun and creative ways to find a mentor. Remember, having a mentor can be a game changer, so don't be afraid to put yourself out there and seek out the guidances you need. Until next time, my sweet friend, be present, keep dreaming, because together we can accomplish anything. I'll talk to you soon.