8 Life Lessons From My Mentors | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

8 Life Lessons From My Mentors

Sometimes when you observe people, you learn some cool stuff

13
8 Life Lessons From My Mentors
Pexels

Sometimes, we make it through school and we have a moment where we sit and think "oh my word, I know nothing." Your college education is meant to be the pinnacle of knowledge — the end all be all of information. But sometimes you walk about with more questions than answers.

That's where mentors come in.

I think we expect a mentor to walk into our life and say "Hello, newb! I am now your official mentor. Time for our first lesson."

Bad news. It doesn't work that way.

I've learned that the best way to find your mentor is to observe those around you and what they do. And, surprise surprise! Your mentor doesn't have to be just one person! I've found many mentors in my short time observing what goes on around me; if I were to count, I think I would have five solid mentors that have taught me some invaluable lessons.

Here's a list of things I've heard my mentors say throughout my lifetime.

1. "Your boss is squirrely"

Sometimes, when we first start a new job, we're eager to please and we want to do anything and everything we can to please the new bosses. It sometimes takes someone pointing out to you that your boss doesn't exactly know what they want all the time for you to realize it's not always you.

2. "Sometimes you have to wait on people. If you can't, go to their office."

While this may not be the world's best advice, it does have a lot of truth to it. If you're waiting for someone to send you an email, walk over to their office and say "I need your information to finish this project but I know you're busy. Is there anything I can help you with so we can get this project done?" I guess the moral is to be helpful and do what you can to work as a team.

3. "If someone wants to leave, let them go and be happy for them"

Not everyone wants to work at the same company for 40 years and retire. So, when they want to go, let them and tell them good luck. Don't burn bridges.

4. "Don't burn bridges"

Turn in your two weeks, send nice emails, go back to your old internships bearing gifts. Make people happy to hear your name. You never know when you'll need a good letter of recommendation or, even, a job. This held true for me. I had to go back to a job and I was thankful I had given my two weeks and was eligible for re-employment.

5. "It's a small world and you never know who you're going to meet"

Basically, be nice. You don't want people saying you're hard to work with.

6. "You've gotta know yourself before you can know your industry, your business, your projects and your friends"

Know your limits, your strengths and your weaknesses to be a better employee. To grow, you've got to be self-aware.

7. "Life is hard so get over it. Enjoy what you have"

Sometimes we can get so caught up in chasing our passions and finding what we love that we forget to enjoy what we have and love what's in front of us.

8. "Don't just lay around. If you can work — work."

That doesn't mean you should only work a 9-5 job. It can mean work on yourself, work on a side-business, work on your family. There is never not something you can do.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2931
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1755
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201021
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21419
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments