`Runner Alumni Mentor Program
I had a blast at the Runner Alumni Mentor Program end of year celebration earlier this month! Thank you to the CSUB Alumni Association for this amazing program and event 👏
I've had the privilege of mentoring Brenae Seals, a recent California State University, Bakersfield grad, since Fall 2023. Our monthly meetings have been centered around discussing her goals and plans for the future, navigating the transition between graduation and the workforce.
Although the program has come to an 'end' for this term, our friendship is just beginning. Brenae has an unwavering passion, determination, creativity and faith that will take her to incredible places in the future. I have no doubt she will achieve great things.
📸: Athena Skapinakis-Wenzel, MPA
Reflecting, there are a few things I’ve learned being a mentor:
You’re never going to know everything. There’s no such thing as a ‘perfect time’ to become one.
We’re all still learning and growing, but if you are in a place where you’ve navigated the earlier seasons of your life and career, whatever wisdom and mistakes you’ve made can help others moving forward. Use your experiences to help others.
Be honest, but encouraging.
Sometimes there will be harder conversations, and it’s okay to be honest. Be open with them about the hard parts of your journey and the things that didn’t work out. But, also remember where you were at that time in your journey, the questions you had, what you were feeling, so you can respond how you wish someone would have told you. Have grace.
Be open.
There’s no ‘one right way’ to be a mentor. Let the relationship happen and unfold naturally. Give advice, but learn how the mentee responds to feedback or the kind of advice they’re looking for. They don’t need you for every little thing, so pay attention to how it might be best to share and address those topics in the future.
Connect your mentees with others you know in your networking circle who also might be able to help them.
‘It takes a village is usually used when it comes to raising a child. The same can be said for a young professional, too. Any connection helps. If your mentee is in the public relations field and you have other friends or colleagues in the same industry, reach out to them. See if they’d be interested in letting them shadow for a day, providing any other advice or have any trainings or workshops coming up that will benefit your mentee moving forward.
Have regular check-ins (whatever that looks like for you both). Schedules are busy, so you most likely won’t be able to talk daily, or maybe even weekly. But, monthly check-ins, whether that’s through Zoom, phone calls or in person, work just fine. This gives you a chance to see how they’re doing - job, school, internships, any career questions they might have and so on.
I’ve been very blessed to find mentors as I’ve gone through the early days in my career. I’ve usually had someone alongside to be my champion and to help me navigate challenging issues that arise. It would have been great to have someone help me transition from college life to working daily and things that come up along the way. If I can help someone else navigate that road, I’m glad to.
I look forward to mentoring other students/soon-to-be graduates as we go and look forward to learning better practices, and how I can better serve the program and our students.