Importance of a Mentor
When we pursue any endeavour, we are bound to face difficulties and challenges. We tend to lose hope in understanding the toughness of the process. It becomes hard to be consistent. But what happens when we are not sure that if this way, we’re walking on, is the right one.
For choosing the right path, we need to know the available options and then choose the most appropriate one. A mentor plays a crucial role in orienting us to this right path. He/She does not take decisions on our behalf, instead, they shape us into a being where we are capable enough to take our own decisions, to fight our own battles. We all look up to someone, someone who not only inspires us but also has got our backs. A similar thing happens concerning our careers, a career counsellor plays the role of a career mentor who guides us our way out to the bright path.
A career counsellor helps us identify our potential and interest and then helps us walk towards achieving our dreams. Before anything else, they understand our dreams, personality, our present situation and our future destination. They aid us in constructing a bridge between our present and our future. The role of the career counsellor starts with assessing our strengths and limits, identifying where our interest lies and helping us pick the best option for us. They help us design our road and push through our limits.
A career counsellor, on one hand, has a very practical approach towards achieving our dreams, setting realistic goals based on standardised tests and identifying the best building blocks for us. They help us with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts, and identifying resources. On the other hand, they also stand as strong as being our mentors. We can look up to them without any hesitation, without any fear and they help us everytime we feel stuck. They provide us with emotional support, keep reminding us of the reasons why we chose to do this and enable us to see the good in everything, especially ourselves.
They have a holistic approach towards their mentees and help them grow not only in their respective fields but also help grow in life. It’s a lifelong relationship of love, respect and support where no one is superior or inferior but both are each other’s well-wishers and help each other do what’s the best for them. They help us transform into better individuals by believing in us unconditionally and make us feel hopeful and courageous at all times.
Summing up in the words of John C. Maxwell, “One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.”