Among the different Dalat-specific cultures, such as Spirit Emphasis Week or Neuro-diversity Week, Mentoring is one of the most fantastic relationship development opportunities that Dalat offers.
Initially, I was unaware of the availability of mentoring until one of my mentors, Ms. Muvumba, introduced me to it. My mentoring helped me immensely in adjusting to new environments and facing situations that made me uncomfortable, more wisely. Being a mentee allowed me to observe and emulate my mentor’s strengths, including actively listening to and considering the perspectives of others. Realizing the benefits of mentoring, I began to form more relationships with teachers whom I was drawn to because of their strengths, which led me to have three mentors – Ms. Muvumba, Mrs. Keister, and Mr. Jens – throughout my high school years. All three of my mentors had different strengths and characteristics, making each one unique and enjoyable.
Additionally, I was not the only one who found mentoring to be valuable and beneficial. Rebekah Wood (12), who had mentoring with a former high school English teacher, Mrs. Knutson, said, “Speaking with an adult who has more experience and is wiser than me has helped me to change my perspective on different situations. My relationship with my mentors has helped me to see things that I would not have otherwise seen.”
As Rebekah has mentioned, adults have a different perspective on the world or situations, which allows them to identify things that students may easily miss. For example, in my recent conversation with my mentor, Mr. Jens, he told me how much I have grown since we started our mentoring, which I was totally unaware of. Learning about the growth I had experienced and how much my mentor has been paying attention to me was highly encouraging.
Despite all the benefits, most students are hesitant to start a mentoring relationship because they are concerned about various factors, such as teachers being unwilling to mentor them. However, Dalat teachers care deeply about their students and strive to foster stronger relationships with them.
The high school Biology teacher, Ms. Sherwynne Goh, said, “ I enjoy mentoring students because I become part of their lives. I can build meaningful relationships with students and hear their life stories from their perspectives; I can journey with them in their growth.”
Dalat teachers are not reluctant to know more about the students and guide them through their journey. Another common concern is the lack of good conversation topics. However, there is no such thing as a “good” conversation topic. The mentees could discuss anything with their mentors. The topic could vary from light conversations, such as a movie or football, to more profound discussions, like a spiritual journey or conflicts with friends. Additionally, the mentors are highly capable of generating conversation topics if the mentee is unable to find one. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask one of your teachers to serve as your mentor, as it is one of the best ways to maximize your experience in Dalat.
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