Joanne Myers

My reflection on mentoring is the story of two funerals and a kids’ camp. It began when my hometown paper published a feature story on the life of a beloved community member, including an excerpt from her autobiography that spoke of the immeasurable benefit having a mentor made in her life. Her mentor introduced her to the world outside of her small community, taught her to listen for and appreciate differing perspectives, nurtured her passions, celebrated her successes, helped her learn from her mistakes, and counseled her to always look for ways to make a difference. She did; and one of those ways was to mentor me. I don’t know that I thought of her as a mentor at the time, but have come to realize the ways in which her example, kindness, and commitment to social justice have shaped my life.

The second funeral celebrated the life of a humble man who rose to the very top of his professions. Time after time, those who reminisced said his role as a mentor was the one that made him most proud. One of his proteges made notes of every single mentoring session they shared over 15 years. He plans to reproduce and bind a copy for each of his mentor’s grandchildren so they could share that piece of his legacy.

This week I proudly watched the young woman I have mentored for 9 years mentor a group of young crew members at a camp for kids. She led by example and the crew and campers alike responded to her enthusiasm and encouragement, even when it meant redirecting their behavior. She found a way to relate to each of the kids, playing games with the youngest and inviting all to join in the music making. The crew watched and followed her lead.

The greatest strength of the York Mentor Program is that it supports and nurtures mentors and mentees in building relationships over time.