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Mentoring @ MIT Kick-Off
For the past two years, the UAAP has started the academic year by hosting an interactive training program for associate advisors interested in learning more about the ins and outs of mentorship. This year, 60 of your fellow associate advisors attended the program and brainstormed on what it means to be a mentor, its characteristics, who their mentors are and how they plan on being effective mentors this year.
The following questions were discussed in breakout groups. We invite you to review their responses.
What is a mentor?
What does it mean to be a mentor? The response to this question might seem obvious to you, since many of you are experienced returning associate advisors. You might even be mentors in other aspects of your life, such as within your living group or sporting activity. Consider the responses of associate advisors who participated in the September training program, Mentoring @ MIT Kick Off.
A. A mentor is someone who….
- Gives advice and useful tips
- Gives direction and guidance
- Is a good role model
- Is supportive
- Is knowledgeable
- You can trust
- You can look up to about academics and life
- You can relate to
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- Takes you out to dinner
- Leads by example
- Knows when to listen and when to give advice
- Answers questions and finds the answers
- Has more experience than you
- Is friendly
- Is considerate
- Is responsible
- Is organized
- Is pro-active
- Is understanding
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The lists that associate advisors brainstormed in their respective breakout gropus proved to be very similar to the textbook definitions of a mentor.
Consider how Dictionary.com defines a mentor: “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher” and Webster’s II New Riverside Desk: “a person who is looked upon for wise advice or guidance." |
What are the characteristics of a good mentor?
We learned that the definition of a mentor closely resembles the actual characteristics of a mentor. A mentor is expected to be more than just a guide with wisdom. S/he must also possess specific qualities/characteristics and perform various functions to be an effective and “good” mentor. Consider the overlap between sections A & B:
B. The characteristics of a good mentor are….
- Approachable
- Accessible
- Patient
- Caring
- Friendly
- Ethical and honest
- Optimistic
- Good attitude
- Positive attitude about MIT
- Dedicated
- Calm
- Tactful
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- Experienced
- Confident
- Resourceful
- Knowledgeable (MIT& off-campus)
- Proactive
- Can handle emergencies
- Put-together, stable & grounded
- Sets good example
- Instills confidence
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- Not overbearing
- Not judgemental
- Good listener
- Good communicator
- Open-minded
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Who are your mentors?
Associate advisors participating in the breakout groups shared many of the same role models ranging from family members to adults in their high school years. Mentors exist at every developmental stage including college. Many of you realized that you are discovering an entire new group of mentors among your peers at MIT.
C. My mentors have been…
- Teachers/ high school
- Professors/ college
- Supervisors
- Coaches
- Leaders of extracurricular activities
- Religious leaders and youth group leaders
- Fraternity brothers
- Upperclassmen
- Friends
How will you execute your plan to be a good mentor this year?
Defining a good mentor, identifying its characteristics and those who have been mentors to you, is a meaningless exercise if you don’t set specific goals on how you will achieve success as a mentor. The UAAP staff asked associate advisors who attended Mentoring @ MIT Kick-Off to breakout into groups to share their ideas on how they personally plan to be a successful associate advisor this year.
D. I will be a good mentor this year by….
- Helping to relieve stress
- Providing direction
- Being a guide as students acclimate to MIT
- Encouraging via email regularly
- Addressing questions and concerns
- Talking to and emailing my advisees regularly
- Making them comfortable asking questions
- Giving confidence so they know what to do
- Help them progress toward individual goals
- Getting together for food or activities 2 times per semester
- Being involved with them
- Exposing them to food & culture
- Orienting them to Boston/Cambridge
- Hanging out individually, far from classes
- Sending them care packages
- Establishing a relationship with my advisees
- Facebook friend them
- Being their friend
- Memorizing their names
- Say hi to them around campus
- Letting them lean on me
- Get them to trust me
- Emailing after their tests and major stepping stones
- Sending a monthly “topic” email (i.e. nutrition, UROPs)
- Making sure they are aware of campus resources (i.e. TSR)
- Reminding them about important dates
- Teaching them skills like resourcefulness
As you answer the questions raised in the various sections within this mentorship exercise, think seriously about how your responses align with the information that has been compiled. Consider which of the characteristics of a mentor listed above are ones that you possess. Compare the list of how to plan to be a good mentor with your own goals for the year. This exercise is not a test, but is intended to help you see where you can make adjustments and show you how you can make improvement. Review, reflect and strive to be an even better mentor!
For more mentoring tips, please go to:
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