A Young Professional’s Letter to her Mentors
Dear Mentor,
I should start first with the words ‘thank you’. There’s nothing else that quite sums up what I’d like to say. Some of you I found through a designated program, and some of you, it seems like, stepped up and volunteered to help me navigate my life and career.
When I think of what I am thankful for, the first thing that comes to mind is your kindness — let me explain. When I came to you worried I had taken a mis-step, when life threw me another curveball, when I had yet another question — as I presented this new information to you in as professional and articulate a manner I could manage, a little part of me also held my breath, waiting to see how you’d respond, bracing myself for disappointment. And yet, you were smiling, your voice was even, balanced, your message positive, constructive. Thank you for the little niceties that made every conversation better — asking how my day was, sharing a bit of yours, & peppering our interactions with affirmations.
Thank you for sharing your own challenges with me, work and personal, past and present. From the anecdotes, I learned more than just what I should do; I also learned how you came to be who you are. This helped me craft the vision of the professional I’d like to grow into.
