Why I Think Everyone Should Have a Mentor
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a trusted guide — someone who offers wisdom, perspective, and support.
Someone who shares their experience, offers advice when needed, and walks beside you as you grow.
But what makes a mentor different from a teacher?
A teacher can be a mentor, absolutely. But not every teacher takes on that role.
In a typical classroom setting, a teacher is often responsible for an entire group. It’s not impossible, but it can be difficult to see each individual student for who they truly are — and to support them in their unique journey.
When I talk about a mentor, I mean someone who sees you.
Really sees you.
It’s usually a one-on-one relationship.
Someone who doesn’t just teach, but listens.
Someone who believes in you — often before you believe in yourself.
Someone who recognizes your potential and gently challenges you to rise to it.
Someone who holds space, gives feedback with love, and stays present through the process.
These are the kind of people we need in our lives.
I’ve been so fortunate to have several people I would call mentors throughout my life.
Some were teachers or professors.
Others were guides who appeared at exactly the right time — when I needed them the most.
Interestingly, I never sought any of them out.
They simply arrived — which reminds me of that quote:
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
That has been true in my life, every time.
Some of these mentors only stayed for a season.
Some remain present in my life today.
Some have passed on.
But they all had something in common:
They saw me.
They believed in me — even when I didn’t believe in myself.
They challenged me. Sometimes deeply.
And I know now: if I hadn’t been ready for the lesson, I probably would’ve pushed them away.
(In fact, I’m sure I have pushed some potential mentors away when I wasn’t ready.)
But the ones who stuck? They challenged me because they knew I was ready — and because they cared enough to stretch me.
I hope we all get to experience the presence of a great mentor at least once in our lives.
They are a gift.
And I hope to be a mentor for others, too.
Because in the end, as Ram Dass so wisely said,
“We’re all just walking each other home.”