The lost art of being mentored

I found a mentor-related article at Tactics and The Strategist Online and it will appear in the April issue of the PR Tactics newspaper.

If you've ever questioned your role or influence as a mentor or if you question the motives of your mentee, take a moment to read the thoughts of a sesasoned mentor and heed his very instructive tips-enjoy.

What's it all about? The lost art of being mentored, March 20, 2008, Tim O'Brien. [click here]

Save the Date: mentor training sessions now available

Fellow Mentors — the organizers of the ASCENT mentor program are listening. They have heard many of us first-timers cry out, "What do I do as a mentor; how do I create a trusting relationship; what if my student doesn't show up to our session?"

Because of our loud crys (and mainly because we all want to see these students excel), they are now offering two mentor training sessions! Yes -- 2 Mentor Training Sessions!

The sessions are available to both Year 1 and Year 2 mentors (trained collaboratively, not separately) and are intended to be inspirational, educational and fun!

On Wednesday, April 2, choose between two session times.
Session I: 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. or
Session II: 4-5:30 p.m.

Where: University of Nevada, Reno, Down Under Cafe, 55 Artemesia St., enter south side of Cafe.

They would love all of our thoughts and suggestions and are continually compiling a list of "hot topics." Please respond to Courtney Klaich at cklaich@washoe.k12.nv.us if you have some burning questions that you'd like to be addressed at this training or at future sessions.

RSVP to attend one of the two sessions by calling the Student Success Services office at (775) 784-6307.

As a reminder, this is a mentor training event designed specially for the adults - do NOT bring your student.

If you have not yet signed up to be a mentor, contact Courtney at her email listed above or by calling her at (775) 327-5604.

Get to mentoring!

Who is my mentee?

For those who have been waiting to hear--I met with my mentee and...

she is a very beautiful, ambitious, prideful and driven individual. I look forward to meeting with her again and assisting her along the path toward higher education.

She is now preparing and studying for her Proficiency exams, scheduled for testing the first week of April. We will meet again after her tests and discuss what she found most interesting and most challenging.

We will check back in soon...

Save the Date: first mentor meeting scheduled

I will be meeting my mentee this Wednesday and finally finding out more about her.

The expectation of ASCENT volunteers is for us to meet on the high school campus, where a certified faculty member will be present. However, it has happened in the past that mentor relationships have extended to involve the parents. At that point it would be up to the parents to give permission for an off-campus meeting.

For now, we will meet at the high school, but I hope our mentor/mentee relationship does expand to a friendship level and that I can serve more of an active role in her life. I would eventually like to bring her to the University campus, show her the amazing new student union building, have her shadow a student photographer (darkroom and all), introduce her to active and influential students/club members, set up a tour for us to go to the local newspaper press, and whatever else she'd like to see or do.

Sophomore year in high school can be a very special but vulnerable time in a person's life and I hope to help shape the mold of my mentee's future that will eventually reflect a successful student and accomplished person.