Growing up, I had this rule of thumb that I didn’t even realise until I started writing this post, which is the fact that I know people or at least someone is watching me. What knowing this has taught me is that there are limitations to certain things that I’d normally want to do. Someone might say that could be because my parents were strict but that wasn’t the case at all. As a child, I grew up with the awareness that I don’t have certain privileges that other kids have and that guided my development in different areas of my life.
I tried as much as I could to always do what is right, learn from other children’s experiences when they are being reprimanded by their parents and avoid having the same experiences. It wasn’t easy, I had the temptation of using my situation to get pity from people, that is, acting like the victim but that wasn’t going to help me be any better. I had to take the hard path for my own good. I knew I’ll thank myself later in life if I stuck to doing the right things but yes, I had times when I didn’t keep up.
The reason I’m saying these things is to first remind us that no matter how young or old you may be, you are a role model. A little child that knows how to always greet those older than him or her will always be the perfect example to kids that are struggling in that regards. Likewise when that child does something well in other regards like in their academics or chores at home. And same goes to an adult that always does things well or is honest or well dressed, well spoken and so much more.
There are so many areas we as individuals can function as role models. There is almost no one who is not a role model, except they are the only one living in a particular place. As long as we interact with people and people interact with us, we find people we want to copy how they do certain things and people who also want to do things in certain way that we do them. Bearing that in mind, I believe that the question of whether or not I’m a role model is out of the way. The question now is, if someone was to walk up to me or reach out to me online and ask me to be their mentor, is it something I’d do or would want to decline?
I’ll be happy if someone likes a particular way I do a particular thing or a lot of things but then, I’d make sure to ask them certain questions and be sure of the things about me that they like and would want to also have. Depending on how well they answer the questions, I’m certain that I’ll most likely accept the role because that way, I’ll have the opportunity to also be better at whatever it is they admire about me.
I think I’m ready for this role because of one particular reason which is the need to be better. The importance of growth can never be overstated. As humans, we keep learning and growing until the day we die and one good way to do that is become a mentor. As long as you have someone to impact, it drives you constantly to impact on yourself first so it can be easy to also impact others. But if I were to run away from that opportunity of being a mentor, it means I do not want to grow and I don’t believe in myself. I want to just stay where I feel comfortable but unfortunately, growth doesn’t happen in places that feel comfortable.
Accepting the role doesn’t mean I’m the best person for anyone to emulate, but it gives me the awareness of the need to always keep striving to be better. And it keeps me on my toes. And on the part of the person I want to mentor, if I do a good job, they also get the opportunity to be mentors to others too.
It will be stressful, demanding and difficult but it will definitely be worth it if I always keep the benefits both for myself and my mentee in mind.
Thank you for reading through! 💜
Images used are mine
