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Monday, June 3, 2013

Debunking Myths About mentoring

When you think about the term "mentoring" there can be some confusion as to how it all actually works. Recently Forbes Magazine published an article titled “Debunking Common Mentoring Myths” with the purpose of clarifying some of the myths about mentoring. One myth they talked about was that mentors choose their mentees. This can be true for some programs, but it is not true of The CareerPassport Mentoring Program (CPM). CPM is a student-driven program where mentees search the database for a mentor, not the other way around.
 
A second myth described was that you only need one career mentor. The truth is that we all go through many stages, and while some mentors may be excellent in one area, they may not be in another. UVU students participating in the CPM Program have the opportunity to have a different mentor every six months.

                Another myth mentioned was that you are either a
                mentee or a mentor. The truth is that mentors learn a lot from their mentees.
                A truly successful mentoring relationship is one in which both parties learn from one   
                another.

The last corresponding myth is that mentoring is a formal relationship with the mentor driving the relationship. Although the CPM Program has a formal structure, the mentee drives the relationship, and many mentoring relationships can turn in to lifelong friendships.
 
Mentoring Success Stories
 
There are many success stories taking place because of great mentoring relationships; each story is inspiring and unique. Recently Denzel Washington wrote an article entitled “The Mentors He’ll Never Forget” about those individuals that inspired him that appeared in Guideposts Magazine. Denzel talked about Billy Thomas, a leader at the Boys Club Denzel attended as a youth. He said he would try to emulate Billy in every way he could because he admired him so much. He then goes on to talk about Jack Coleman, the owner of a barbershop where Denzel grew up. Coleman gave him a job sweeping floors and he taught him the value of hard work. 
The next Mentor Denzel talks about is Mr. Underwood, his high school English teacher. He would have his class read the New York Times every morning, and it really taught Denzel about the world around him. One of the most influential mentors Denzel talks about is his public speaking professor at Fordham University. He had Denzel do a scene from Hamlet, and even though it scared him, he soon really loved being on stage.

Spread The Word

If you have any mentoring success stories from the CPM Program we’d love to hear from  you. Send your experiences to cpmentoring@uvu.edu.  We also encourage you to pass along  your mentor referral card to your colleagues, family and freinds who you think would be a great mentor for our program. Share with them your experiences and the benefits you gain from being a part of the CPM Program.
References
 Quast, Lisa (Jan 14, 2013). Debunking Common Mentoring Myths, Forbes Magazine.
Washington, Denzel (Apr 21, 2011). The Mentors He’ll Never Forget Guidepost Magazine.