“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” — Denzel Washington
When I think about the things that have contributed to the level of success I have achieved in life, there is no question that the investment a number of mentors have made in me through the years is among the most significant. Reaching way back into my past, I think of so many teachers (school, dance, piano, Sunday school) who encouraged both my intellectual and creative abilities, and I think of my dad's (female) engineering students who showed me that the cool girls were also very, very smart. As I reflect on the early years of my career, I think of so many colleagues who took me under their wings and provided me with encouragement as well as specific ideas and suggestions of how to be a better teacher. Even today my life is full of mentors, both older and younger than I, who are always available to provide me with their unique insight and perspective when I need it.
Because of the strength I have gained from all of them, it has only been natural for me to share that with others. For a long time I didn't really think consciously about my role as a mentor, but over the past few years (particularly since becoming involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters) I have been much more deliberate and intentional in establishing mentoring relationships with others.
“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
So recently, one of my dear friends (who has also honored me by calling me a mentor) and I were texting and we started talking about her dissertation. She entered candidacy a little over a year ago, and with a major career change/move she's been struggling to carve out the time to write her prospectus. She was discouraged over of her lack of progress, and those feelings were keeping her from the focus she needed to write and make progress. A vicious cycle, for sure. As I shared trying moments from my own writing process and encouraged her to just take it one step at a time she said, "I just need you to be my dissertation coach!" So I said, "Of course!" After I convinced her I was serious, we started making preliminary plans for how I could help guide and encourage her to make progress toward her goal.
Later that night I thought of other colleagues and former students who are also struggling with the dissertation writing process, in many cases because the whole task seems too big to tackle and they feel uncertain of where to start (or if they have started, where to go next). And I thought...perhaps I could do others some good as a dissertation coach. Really. I've been through the process myself. I know the challenges and a few strategies to use to conquer them, and I actually really enjoy giving people feedback on their writing. And I'm at a new point in my career where I would actually have the time to give to others in this venture. So...here I am, offering Thesis/Dissertation Coaching on this new site, and excited about the potential to mentor even more people as they pursue their goals for a higher degree.
Henry Adams said, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." I'd like all of my mentors to know that their influence is getting passed on for at least one more round. I think they would be proud.