Thank you, Marshall.
What was it about Mr. Schonnschmit that make him such a good mentor? What are some specific things you bring to your students that your mentor inspired in you?
I've long looked to Fritz Shonnenschmit of CIA in Hyde Park, NY as my mentor. Little did I know at the time that I would be using my experiences to affect lives today as a Culinary Instructor with Le Cordon Bleu.
Yes, many mentors have made positive impacts in my life. My husband is a great example as he is is very supportive, wise, and has pushed me on in my quest to obtain even higher educational goals.
My other mentors have been college professors who saw in me something special that I did not always see or recognize. The ones who showed me they cared, they gave me a kind word or encouragement to make it through.
I am shaped in part by these experiences and do share this way of caring teaching with all of my students. I let them know I understand how they feel, they can be successful, and that I truly care for every one of them.
Voneece Ginger Little
I agree wholeheartedly with this philosophy. I learned this the hard way more than once. I just did not seem happy at any of my jobs until I was blessed with the opportunity to earn my degrees and work as an online health science college instructor.
I found my passion and my love in teaching. I am happy at what I do now and feel such a sense of fulfillment that I had not felt previously.
I love to help people and always loved research to assist others, so the teaching profession definitely suits me well.
Great post,
Voneece Ginger Little
LE,
Most of us feel that we can never measure up to the best mentors we have had. I'll bet if you asked those mentors why they were so good, they would tell you that they were not as good as the mentors they have.
As teachers, we never know how far our influence will spread. Just keep trying to be helpful and someday one of your students will probably write about you as the mentor, even if you do not realize it now.
Finding people who are good at mentoring is a rare thing. I have seen very few who have the skills fully developed. I had the good fortune to work for a great mentor for a short while. He was able to help me look at my performance from a different perspective. He helped me to develop some critical professional skills and taught me to look at things from other vantage points than my own. As a result, I often catch myself taking actions or making mistakes that I can quickly correct. I try to emulate the lessons I learned but I never feel like I am as good as my earlier mentor.
Thanks for sharing this story, George. You were lucky to have such a mentor.
What kind of things do you to to try to play the same role with your students?
I have had several mentors, but the one that I remember most vividly is a high school teacher. We still keep in contact today. Not only was she a mentor but a model of behavior that I wanted to emulate. Now this is coming from a teenager. I had no goals at the time because I had been drafted but this teacher convinced me that I need to identify life after the Army and what I really wanted to do with myself. Preparation could start while I was serving although I considered it more a prison sentence. I wanted to pursue Psychology and did major in that subject in college, but decided that I wanted to be a teacher because of the influence of this mentor. I continued taking college course as I had the time, and did eventually get that teaching job in a high school. I aspired to take it to another level so have been teachings at the college and university level as of late. This is making a long story short, but I think that this person had more influence on my professional life than anyone.
Thank you for sharing this, Richard. You are fortunate to have these two folks in your life.
What are some things you have learned from them that you can take into your classroom and bring to your students?
I have to admit that there are 2 people here that mean the world to me. They keep me on track and truly shows that were I work are a great place. They also help me with life experience because they care and know that there is not a book printed to help with life’s rocky road. (And I don’t mean the ice cream!) The education that they bring to me also extends in to the class room to help students with their issues has well.
Thanks, Donna.
What were some of the specific things your A&P teacher did to make you believe that he believed in you? What are some specific things you do for your students to achieve the same results?
I have had several mentors throughout my lifetime that have appeared when I most needed a mentor. I do believe in the saying "when a student is ready, a teacher will appear". One was an Anatomy and Physiology teacher. When I was struggling, he gave me much needed encouragement, and made suggestions to help me study, always making me feel that he believed I would do great. He made it crystal clear in my mind, that just one person can really change another persons' direction and outlook. I was not sure I could do all that was required to meet my goals, but because he believed in me, I surpassed them.
I worked for a litigating attorney while in college. Observing him I learned much about engaging people, reading the subtle signs and mannarisims of people. This has served me well through my career.
I have a great history that I share which alot of students can relate to... I was a young single mother living in the projects when I went to nursing school.
I also have ADD, and am the first to say 'oops' if I forget something. I think letting your flaws show helps them understand you are a REAL person - not perfect.
Thank you, Dana. You were fortunate to have several mentors that positively influenced you.
What are some of the specific things you do intentionally to be "real" to your students?
I cannot pick a single person out as being a mentor in my life. I have several people have learned valuable character traits from.
It is important to me to always be strong, yet fun, goofy & light-hearted; understanding yet fair; organized but able to compromise; have a positive outlook and not "worry" about things out of my control.
I also think in the classroom it is important to be REAL. I believe all these traits help my students to relate to me as a person as well as respect my knowledge as a nurse.
Thanks, Shannon. You were fortunate to have this mentor in your life.
What are some specific things you do to position yourself to be a mentor for your students?
My mentor was the first female chef that allowed me to achieve my goal of becoming a sous chef under her. I trained under her positive, patient and nurturing tutelege all the while being pushed to meet a culinary bar I never thought I could reach. She believed in me and helped me belive in myself with a positive aproach to teaching that I never forgot and try to emulate everday in my own classroom.
You can look at your support system as many mentors that cross our path during our lifetime and leave imprints that impact us more than others. Having positive and goal oriented people around you has an impact.
