[nabs-l] mentoring, was High school outreach

Sat May 16 02:38:36 UTC 2009

Good job Jedi, I agree wholeheartedly

On 5/15/09, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
> 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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