Using Resources & Seeking Mentorship
Sir Isaac Newton is famously quoted as saying, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Newton was referring to the work of great thinkers that allowed for his contributions to science, but there is still a relevant lesson we can draw from this principle. Our key takeaway is this: Newton didn’t come up with his ideas or find success on his own; instead, he used the information already available to discover even greater things. How does this apply to our learning? Strategically using our resources not only allows us to cut down our workload, but also to achieve more successful outcomes.
USING RESOURCES WISELY
Imagine that you are preparing for a notoriously difficult final exam. You know it’ll be hard because you’ve been studying the material all year and are continuing to grapple with some key concepts.
Here are some common paths you could take: (1) continue studying on your own; (2) collaborate with one or more of your peers to help one another better prepare for the test; or (3) seek help from a mentor, such as a teacher, academic coach, or even a sibling.
Choosing the second or third path doesn’t mean you’ll study any less, but it may make studying more effective or give you some direction and confidence. The people around you can be some of your best resources, especially when they can offer advice or experience in something you aren't familiar with. Recognizing how others can help make your academic career more successful and asking for their help is a staple of resourcefulness.
This is one of many examples of how we can use our resources to our advantage. Asking for help can be really difficult for many reasons. We may not want to bother the person or come across as unintelligent when we don’t understand something. However, you’ll find that most people are more than willing to help if you ask them. Asking for help is actually one of the smartest things you can do for your development.
Asking for help is beneficial for multiple reasons:
Builds self-awareness: Recognizing when you need help will increase your self-awareness and allow you to better understand your strengths and weaknesses. You are developing constructive habits in utilizing your resources that will be applicable both in school and in the workplace.
Increases productivity: Using your resources means “working smarter, not harder.” Hard work is important, but using our time and efforts efficiently will drive better results. For example, you can consider asking your teacher what concepts to focus on, or plan time to study with your peers. Utilizing your resources in such ways can channel your energy and time more productively.
Fosters relationships: We can create meaningful connections when we reach out to others for help. Not only does asking for help allow you to interact socially, but it sends a message to the other person that you value their opinions and experience.
Allows us to learn from others: Learning from our own mistakes and successes is helpful to teach ourselves the right path to take, but we can also learn from other’s mistakes and successes too. Valuing the experience of others and applying their advice to our own lives can lead to better decision making.
Getting in the habit of asking for help and being resourceful will serve you well throughout high school and becomes especially important in college. You can apply these skills to any new or challenging environment.
Here are some examples of when you can and should use your resources:
Office hours: If teachers are offering time to help their students outside of class, take advantage of it! Ask them questions about upcoming tests and essays, or gain a greater understanding of class topics. You’ll find that professors offer these in college all the time.
Form study groups: Even if you prefer working alone, consider breaking up your work with a study group. Each person in the group can create detailed study guides on specific sections to allow for more productive and focused studying.
Ask questions: If someone is more experienced than you in something you are currently learning, pick their brain. Are you not sure how to study for the SAT? Should you take AP U.S. History and A.P. Global Studies at the same time? Find someone who has done it and ask them about their experience.
School resources: Your school may already have certain programs in place, such as workshops for SAT and AP guidance. Looking at the opportunities around you is an important step in seeing what your resources are and taking advantage of them.
The number of resources available to you is not as important as making the best use of the ones you have. If you recognize certain areas in which you need help, see what options are available to you and take the (sometimes difficult) step of using those resources or asking for help.
HOW TO FIND MENTORS
A mentor is an individual with experience or knowledge in a particular field who provides guidance to another person (also known as a “mentee”). By offering their guidance, mentors help mentees recognize their potential and develop the necessary skills to reach performance goals. As with asking for help, finding a mentor will allow you to develop stronger relationships with people you look up to and maximize your potential in a specified area. Academic mentors are important as you make your way through high school, into college, and start your professional career.
Academic mentors can be other students, teachers, college counselors, academic coaches, or anyone who plays a positive role in helping you achieve academic success. Finding the right mentor is highly personalized and will depend on your goals, as well as your current relationships with those in academic settings. These same principles can be applied to finding a mentor for professional or personal growth as well.
Here are some of the best practices for finding a mentor:
Find someone you want to be like: In an academic setting, this could be an older student who has been particularly successful, a teacher who studies a topic you are interested in, or someone with a job that sounds interesting to you. Finding out how they got where they are can help influence the decisions you make for similar outcomes.
Teachers or academic coaches: These are individuals who joined their profession because they love helping students learn and develop academically. These are also people with whom you likely already have relationships that you can continue building.
Student groups: Members and leaders in student groups you join can be great resources. These individuals likely have similar interests to you, come from different backgrounds, and offer experiences and perspectives different from your own.
A specific person may have come to mind after reading the list above. Now you may be wondering, “How do I ask them to be my mentor?” You don’t need to explicitly ask someone to be your mentor. Oftentimes, the relationship will develop naturally as you seek their guidance.
If you want to be mentored by someone you don’t know, relationship development is key. We can’t expect someone to simply give up their time and provide guidance to a stranger. Meaningful mentorship is fostered over time, bringing benefit to both parties. If there is a specific individual you hope to have as a mentor, be helpful to them. Offer your support on projects they are working on and follow their work. Investing our time and effort into others is one of the best ways to build the mentor-mentee bond.
As you find value in your relationship with your mentor and progress in your academic or professional career with their assistance, show your gratitude not only by thanking them but also by paying it forward to individuals who may want you as a mentor one day.
BUILDING STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS
As a high school student, finding teachers you relate to can be an excellent start to finding mentors. Not every teacher will become a mentor for you personally, but you should always strive to form and maintain strong and meaningful student-teacher relationships. You may find that your efforts foster the development of one or two relationships that you hadn’t initially expected.
Here are some great ways to build student-teacher relationships:
Clear and professional communication: Strong communication skills will be necessary throughout college and the workforce. Practicing good communication habits in high school will not only make these behaviors second nature, but will also allow you to establish yourself as a mature and serious student. Good communication entails being clear and precise in asking questions, showing appreciation for and thanking your teachers for their time, and keeping emails professional.
Ask for extra work or practice: Asking teachers for extra practice problems or to go over class concepts with you will not only improve your understanding of the material, but will also show your investment in the class. Teachers often enjoy giving their time to students who devote themselves to self-improvement.
Offer your help: If there are projects your teacher needs assistance with, offer to help. Doing so will help strengthen your relationship. Not only are you making their life easier, but you are likely to learn something or find the experience gratifying.
Share your goals: Sitting down with a teacher and telling them about your goals (for the class, college, future, etc.) can be a great way to receive guidance and strengthen your relationship. They may have insights into what paths to take or can put you in contact with other people who have had similar experiences.
Even when we’re frustrated about a score on a test or how we’re doing in a class, we have to remember that teachers are there to help us grow and learn. If you can redirect your focus back to those principles and your larger goals, you can improve your performance in the class while developing productive relationships.
Your actions as a student have a large impact on your relationships with teachers, and therefore the potential for mentorship. Showing your desire to improve, investment in the subject matter, and overall curiosity for learning often catch a teacher’s attention, making them even more excited to help you and become a part of your academic journey.
STUDY TIP OF THE WEEK
Try explaining a concept or lesson to another person as a way to improve your own understanding.