I have had many mentors throughout my life. Some were life mentors like my Mother who was in Education for over 30 years and taught me the importance of good education while maintaining excellent grades. Once I had succeeded in my educational goals, it has led me to professional mentors in my field who have given me invaluable guidance, advice and opportunities to help me realize my dreams and to always strive for more!
David,
Thanks for this post. What were one or two of the specific things your mentor did to be motivational in her classroom?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Shannon,
It is great when folks talk about their parents as the primary mentors. My dad was mine.
Jeffrey Schillinger
My mentor was truly exceptional in the classroom. She engaged every student, was very motivational, held high standards, and taught to all learning styles. She taught me that an educator is much more than just someone who teaches, but someone who changes lives.
Many mentors have had a profound impact on my life. My parents provided a strong foundation when I was young and always supported me in initiatives, decisions, and activities. Additionally, while growing up my coaches instilled instruction and principles that were transferable in every aspect of my life both personally and professionally. Ultimately these roles models promoted principles such as work ethic and responsibility that have allowed me success and a great platform to promote to students and employees within our organization.
Tomoko,
You were fortunate to have a teacher who took and interest in you and, more importantly, took action to support you.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I had rough school years for been difference race in a different country. Every teachers I had gave me very common and general support by always ending the talk with "It will be ok" I was not ok at all. But only one teacher went out of his way to really get to what I have to work, including mistakes I was making, on and how, by leaning to love myself and see what are my strength. He also helped me set up goal and how to reach them.
This definitely helped me really learn and see my students struggle and find solution TOGETHER with them to reach their goal. Including getting better grades, to graduation to making it in the industry. I am very honest with them regards to their weaknesses but I always go back to what they are great on.
Mr. Schillinger,
Great question!
I first entered the education field 5 years ago as an admissions representative. After working 9 months for one organization, I came to work for my current employer. The Campus President went out of her way to “lead by walking aroundâ€. She would visit with all staff members and find out about them and their goals. She told me that she could see me being a Campus President one day. Since that time I have completed my Masters in Administration with an emphasis in Leadership and have been both a Director of Admission and Director of Student Operations. My next position will be Campus President. While I like to think I have a lot of personal drive, it did make a difference to have another person say they believe in you and that you can do great things.
I know use that lesson I learned to help encourage others to strive to accomplish their goals. I get to be the first one to shake the hands of our graduates and they often include me in pictures with their family. Lifting others up and helping them with their vision has been very rewarding.
Rene,
What were one or two of your mentor's specific behaviors that you have adopted in dealing with your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Andrea,
What were some of the specific behaviors of you mentors that led you to selecting each of them as your mentor?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Mentors are all around us! Coworkers who carry on amazingly, in spite of personal challenges that we have seen knock others off course. I can think of a teacher that triggered the competitive part of my personality. My competitiveness (even directly with him) led me to strive harder to master the subject. I can remember a boss who, upon recognizing a lack of motivation on my part, took the time to do a major project with me.
When I first began my career in the Financial Aid, I had the priviledge to work under a Financial Aid Director that showed me the foundation of everything I know today. Not only did she show me the foundation she also showed me that it's not just entering numbers and excel sheets, its getting to know the student and truly helping the student. I was very lucky to work under such a great leader.
I had one mentor when I was going through massage school who helped "mold" me as a therapist who had been in the industry for 30+ years. Without her encouragement and guidance, I would not have completed my program.
Again, another mentor helped me after I was in the field of massage education. She helped me in regards to dealing with some of our more challenging students. She told me that the more challenging students are here to be healed, they just don't know it yet. To this day, when things are difficult or challenging, I remember what she said and it helps put things in perspective for me.
Todd,
You are lucky to have had this type of inspiring teacher in your life. Manny adult learners need the "real world" connection in order have the motivation to learn. They feel too busy to learn things for learning's sake.
Jeffrey Schillinger
One of my mentors was a teacher I had in College a few years ago. His style of teaching was to not only tell you the information but show you and always relate what he was teaching to real world situations. Most of the class would complain about how much work/homework was involved but by graduation he had taught us that we were capable of accomplishing more than what we thought possible. To this day when I get overwhelmed I think back to his class and still accomplish more then I think is possible each day.
My mentor is a family friend that I have known all my life. A professional chef he embraces teaching new employees and making sure they are set down the right path. While not a professional educator he has inspired me to care about the outcomes of every student as it is through our people that we can measure our own success.
My mentors have taught me to work hard, play hard, have fun, and rest! This gives me motivation and direction in both my personal and professional lives. I know it is hard work being a student. Acknowledging that and allowing space to rest is important. Focusing solely on the work can lead to burnout. Rest gives balance to all that energy output and allows for the ability to persist through challenging times and be successful in what you are working towards.
Rebecca,
Wahat are one of two specific things she did to help you get yout barring?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I worked with a women when I first started teaching that really help get my barring, she truly keep me from quitting many times, and taught me what effect I can have on others
Tenille,
Thanks for sharing this post. Returning faculty who have been students as well as professionals in the feel often are able to "reach" students through being a similar other.
Jeffrey Schillinger
