I was very influenced by my RT intructor when I was an RT student, which was a really long time ago now. Till today I remember his kind words of encouragement. I credit him the fact that I am now an RT instructor. He has been a true inspiration to me.
Having had a mentor and knowing the value of it. I now strive to provide the same value to my students. In addition to providing them with advice and mentoring them, it also bring a certain level of satisfaction to me, that I am sort of giving back...
Joseph,
What are some specific things you do to better position yourself to be a mentor to your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
After i finished culinary school years ago, i had a chef mentor who was fairly older than me, much of a grandfather/patriarch. His training approach was to what he saw inside, my potential to reach skill levels. He saw, via his experience and care, what i could not--this is wisdom and i use this training as an instructor to this day.
Christella,
Thank you for this post. You seem to be involved, which is the extremely important for a Program Director. What is your strategy for dealing with students who are not in class when they should be?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I, as the Program Director, make rounds to see if students are in class and not hanging out in the break area, bathrooms or outside during class time. I also make it my time to enter the classrooms and sit in while instructors are lecturing or students demonstrating clinical procedures. Students ask me to be their patients for clinicals such as blood draws, vital signs and immunizations. I be their patients because they have to practice in order to attend the externship and I will catch errors and mistakes. I inform the student(s) that mistakes are acceptable because they are in training, but when out in the real world, it is too late for mistakes because the patients do not know what is the right and/or wrong way to perform a certain procedure.
Christella,
What are the most important things you do to 'connect" with your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree. I had two teachers also in my training days who showed me that they cared and knew that I could do anything that I put my mind to. I am that type of person that caring for others is my passion. I come from a family background which medicine is our thing. And once I did a couple of days in training, I knew that this was going to be my passion because I love to see everyone to feel and look good.
My father was not too much around me as I was growing up. My Mother was both parents of the family and she instilled all the good qualities that I should carry on in my life to succeed such as honesty, hard work at whatever I do, just being a trustworthy person and be accountable for my mistakes and errors as well as my rights.
My Mother always did for others before herself. She was a great provider and a great listener. I knew with her strength that she instilled in me, I knew that I was going down the right road in life to succeed.
I learned a lot from my Mother...God Bless her soul. She was there for me and gave me the attention that I needed to do the right things in life to succeed. I appreciate all the goodness that she gave me. Sometimes I did not understand some of the phrases and little talk she spoke to me, but as of today, I well understands. For example, work hard at what you do and you will succeed. The road gets rough, but there will be bumps in the road.
When I first started out as a teacher, I did not think that I could stand in the front of class and give the students what I had learned as a student. I knew that I had the knowledge and the accurate information to deliver to students, but I thought that I would not connect with each and every student. But I did it!!!!!
Jackie ,
How did they show they cared?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I have a a couple "great" junior high teachers.
I always had the thought that I wanted to be just like them. They were awesome and truely seemed to care about their students.
Marshall,
Grandparents come up a lot in this question. It always makes me smile.
Jeffrey Schillinger
My grandfatehr was an great mentor. He was uneducated but the smartest man I've ever known. He instilled the importance of reading. Though he had very little formal eduaction he always told me "If you can read, the world is at your feet". I can't remember a time I didn't see him with a book. He encouraged me to not be concerned about making mistakes. I remember him telling me "If your not making mistakes then your not doing anything". Challenges and mistakes were there to give you the experience to become better. I miss him.
Paul,
A lot of folks I have worked with knew their stuff inside and out, but my mentors were so much more than knowledgeable.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I have had several persons in my life that I considered as mentors. The one that effected me to most in regards to my career was a person whom I thought was the most intelligent and knowledgable person on most any topic. He seem to be always so very well informed on all subjects. To me, he examplifed what I wished to become.
My dad was my mentor too, Leslie. He was all the things I aspire to be. He never made choices for me, though he helped to develop the values I use to make choices. I am glad to see that your dad had a similar impact on you.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Like many others, my dad is my mentor. When I was young, he taught me responsibility and held me accountable. He allowed me to make some choices, and to accept the consequences of my choices. This allowed me to see cause-and-effect relationships early in life. I think this has helped me to make good choices and stand by responsibilities I have accepted.
David,
I enjoy reading about parents and grandparents in response to theis question. You are the first to be one of 64 grandkids!
Jeffrey Schillinger
