We’ve all been there – in need of someone to guide us through a process, whether that be school-related, such as the college application process, or something personal that you seek someone’s opinion on. It’s impossible that we don’t require help at some point – and at each stage in our life, we will always look to those more older, experienced, and knowledgeable than us. There is a certain comfort to knowing that no matter how old you get, you can always find help in a mentor. In this article, I’ll outline benefits to mentoring – a process that benefits both the mentor and mentee, and is extremely rewarding. 

  1. Giving back 

If you’ve ever been mentored, you can probably understand how beneficial it was to you. These mentors take time out of their days to help you and your life become a better version, and they will most often do this without a cost. When the cycle continues, and the mentees become mentors, it provides a stable system that benefits generations. Additionally, mentoring someone after you’ve been mentored can give you a great sense of how best to connect to others, especially someone who’s in the same shoes you were a couple years ago. 

  1. Feeling rewarded

By mentoring, not only do you help someone out with their life goals, but you can also find a comfort in knowing that you are benefitting someone’s life for the better – and that realization is extremely satisfying. When you see someone flourish with advice that you gave them, it will give you a newfound appreciation for the cycle that you’ve become a part of – your mentee will appreciate you and might even pass it on! 

  1. Meaningful Connections

When you mentor someone, you’re likely to get to know them closely. Through their interests, experiences, and passions, you’ll come to see the whole picture – why they’re studying what they are, what drives them to these ambitions. These connections can help you become a better mentor and you’ll find yourself seeking out more personably ways to apply your teachings to them since you have a comprehensive idea of their personality. In turn, the mentee gets to learn about you – how you reached a position to mentor, what you’re studying, your interests, and who led you to want to become a mentor. These conversations are important and can often be the driving factor in an effective mentor-mentee relationships, relationships that if done well, can last for a long time and become personal.