Random Acts of Mentoring

Airports and air travel fascinate me.  First, I’m still thrilled to get on a plane.  The fun of going away to see something different has not diminished, even though I have to undress in the security line to get to the gate.

Then there’s people watching.  Airports are THE BEST for this!  Viewing the fashion statements is enough to keep me occupied for hours, with everything from tuxedos to tank tops.

Most recently I had the “privilege” of seeing a woman dressed as Batman (or should I say “Batwoman”) including the cape.  No, it was not Halloween.  She even carried a colorful posterboard sign that said, “Ka-Pow!” which she would hold in front of people’s faces and shout the words.  Fun to watch, but sadly she sat behind me on the flight and Ka-Pow got old after the first time.

As I was standing in the airport terminal at my gate, I was mesmerized by the orchestration of planes, people and luggage.  Like a well-oiled machine planes came in, refueled, loaded/unloaded people and baggage, and take off again.

Okay, sometimes the system isn’t perfect – planes are delayed and luggage decides to go to a different destination – but it really is phenomenal that this is happening day-in and day-out, all over the world.

Wonder what the Wright brothers would think if they could see this?  Did they ever imagine that their one flight – in front of naysayers – would eventually turn into a world-wide travel system that we completely take for granted?

You never know exactly how your actions might impact someone else.  Your passion could make a difference to one person, a group, a neighborhood or the world.  Who knows?

And you may not actually see the impact.  But you have to know and believe that it’s there. If you’re lucky you might see a glimpse of it. Hopefully those you impact will understand the value and make an impact of their own.

We don’t need to be as innovative as the Wright brothers to leave a legacy; simply find something that interests you.  It could be a passion for science and research that allows you to work towards a cure for a disease; a love of animals could turn into a pet-related service or business; volunteering anywhere provides much-needed resources.

For me, my passions are many, but there is one that stands tall above the rest – mentoring. Particularly college students about to embark on their careers.

As a mentor, my goal is to listen first, then share my experience to help the students on their career journey.  I’ m passionate about it for several reasons, mainly because a mentor is something I wish I’d had.  It would have been great to have had access to an experienced mentor working in my field of interest when I was in school and throughout my career.

The students I’ve met are seriously smart, courteous, engaging and fun to be with.  They actually think my career is cool, or awesome, or whatever it is kids say nowadays.  I don’t have all the answers to their questions and am not there to solve problems, but to guide them to success. Together we talk and strategize and come up with a possible plan of action.

My mentees know they can call me with any question and I’ll give them a straight-forward answer. Even if it’s one they don’t want to hear.

I’m luckier than the Wright brothers. While I may not impact the entire world, I get a sneak peek at the impact I’m making, one student at a time.  And I love it.