[nabs-l] mentoring, was High school outreach

Sat May 16 01:57:11 UTC 2009

I like to think of mentoring as a sort of gardening. In gardening, we 
don't force plants to become what we want them to become. We appreciate 
what they are as we give them the nutrition and care to help them grow. 
Mentoring certainly takes a lot of skill and passion. There is no such 
thing as a perfect mentor. guess what, we'll all eventually screw up.

When I think of my favorite mentor, I think about how caring he is. He 
takes joy in simply spending time with me. he's proud of my 
accomplishments. He helps me through my difficulties. He's amazed at 
what I learn. He's not at all proud. He shares his experiences and 
wisdom, yet he knows that we are not and will never be the same person. 
Most important, I get the impression that he sees me as an equal 
although I am also his apprentice. He does not belittle me, make me 
feel stupid, or act like his understanding is totally beyond my 
comprehension; he also doesn't stagnate in his perceptions of me. I get 
the impression that he learns almost as much as he teaches, and he's 
definitely fascenated by what he learns.

I consider myself lucky to have him. If I had the same level of skill 
he has, I'd be a happy camper. In the meantime, I hope to strive to 
meet his example.

Respectfully,
Jedi
Original message:
> Why is mentoring important? Mentoring is important because it sents a
> positive example for the studentbeing mentored. The student will learn
> from the mentors what is possible, and recieve direct examples of how
> to do things. Also, young students tend to listen to people who aren't
> their parents, even if the person says the exact same thing as their
> parents. A blind mentor could give the "If I can do it, you can do
> it," vibe off.

> Who can mentor? Anyone can be a mentor, it depends on who wants to,
> who has the drive, attitude, and desire to try.

> How is a match made? Well, if we develop a survey about mentors likes,
> dislikes, majors and future goals, and do a similar one for the high
> school student, then match up results as closely as possible it could
> be benificial.

> How is it supposed to be done? Mentors should not push their ideas
> down their students' throats. They should present the facts, state
> their oppinion, support it, and then ask questions to find out the
> student's oppinion, and help develop it into something doable. Be
> encouraging, and understanding, approachable.

> What are the benefits? There are benifits for both parties. The mentor
> isn't the only one teaching. Both will walk away with a good
> experience, insight, encouragement, and possibly a friend in the
> future.

>  When does the mentoring relationship begin and end? I don't think a
> mentoring relationship, if it works out propperly ever truly ends. I
> personally think of many people as my mentors, but I've also begun to
> see them as friends too, so the relationship hasn't really ever ended.
> I still go to them with questions for advice, and ideas, help and
> support.

> On 5/15/09, Antonio Guimaraes <aguimaraes at nbp.org> wrote:
>> Okay,

>> With so much talk about mentoring, what do you guys think is mentoring? How
>> is it supposed to be done? What are the benefits? When does the mentoring
>> relationship begin and end? How does it begin and end?

>> Why is mentoring important? Who can mentor? How is a match made?

>> These are all questions I can try and answer and research, but I am curious
>> what you think.

>> Let's hear it from the most vibrant blind student generation.

>> Antonio M. Guimaraes Jr.

>> ReadBooks Coordinator
>> National Braille Press
>> 888 965-8965, ext 40.
>> aguimaraes at nbp.org

>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Aziza C" <daydreamingncolor at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 1:03 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] High school outreach

>>> Well? If it hasn't worked with NABS, maybe Angela is right. We can
>>> start state by state, and designate people to keep in touch with other
>>> states in order to make sure out of state students can have an
>>> opportunity to meet a mentor.
>>> It is understood that a mentor isn't just for one night. And, honestly
>>> it isn't that hard to be mentored or mentor. I am seventeen, joined
>>> the NFB at fifteen, and the friends I have made are mostly older than
>>> me, but I see them as mentors as well as friends. Also, I received a
>>> call from one of these friends asking me to be a mentor for a sighted
>>> student about blindness. It isn't a very intricate system that needs
>>> to be set up. I think we need people willing to do it, a method of
>>> keeping in contact,  a way to publicize it, and a way to check up on
>>> progress.
>>> Aziza

>>> On 5/15/09, Antonio Guimaraes <aguimaraes at nbp.org> wrote:
>>>> Angela,

>>>> NABS has tried the mentoring thing before, and maybe even still does it
>>>> for
>>>> convention attendees.

>>>> It hasn't historically worked well to my knowledge, because I think, we
>>>> as
>>>> an organization don't define mentoring the way that it should be defined,
>>>> and a program conducted.

>>>> I will expand on what i mean on a later post, but mentoring is more than
>>>> here is the mentor, and the mentee/student, you guys go do your thing.

>>>> there needs to be a defined set of goals and expectations for the
>>>> mentoring
>>>> relationship, and you don't mentor someone by sitting next to them at a
>>>> meeting for one evening.

>>>> Just my thoughts,

>>>> Antonio M. Guimaraes Jr.

>>>> ReadBooks Coordinator
>>>> National Braille Press
>>>> 888 965-8965, ext 40.
>>>> aguimaraes at nbp.org

>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Angela fowler" <fowlers at syix.com>
>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 5:55 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] High school outreach

>>>>> I love the idea of a mentoring program like the one you guys are talking
>>>>> about. I think, however, that these programs are best handled by the
>>>>> individual state divisions. How can NABS encourage the states to put
>>>>> something like this together?
>>>>> Just thinking about California, and how we could best enact this
>>>>> plan. The first thing we would need is a list of all the colleges and
>>>>> universities in the state, and how many blind students attend each one.
>>>>> Then
>>>>> we would have to contact these students and, maybe also offering them
>>>>> some
>>>>> incentive, determine whether or not they would be willing to participate
>>>>> in
>>>>> the program. Then we would need to compile a database of the people who
>>>>> are
>>>>> willing. Once that is done, we market, market, market the program to
>>>>> high
>>>>> school juniors and seniors throughout the state. When high schoolers are
>>>>> in
>>>>> need of a mentor, they contact us, we pair them with someone, and then
>>>>> follow up with both parties to make sure all is going well.
>>>>> What do you guys think?
>>>>> Angela

>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Liz Bottner
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:00 PM
>>>>> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] High school outreach

>>>>> Hi,

>>>>> I think this is an amazing idea. I'd be willing to help in any way that
>>>>> I
>>>>> can.

>>>>> Liz

>>>>> email:
>>>>> liz.bottner at gmail.com
>>>>> Visit my livejournal:
>>>>> http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com
>>>>> Follow me on Twitter:
>>>>> http://twitter.com/lizbot
>>>>> Consider helping blind and visually impaired Delaware students in the
>>>>> March
>>>>> for Independence:
>>>>> http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/TR/walk/General?team_id=2830&pg=tea
>>>>> m&fr_id=1050

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