Who Is My Mentor?

As defined by Merriam Webster, a mentor is, “someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.” “My Mentor, My Friend” is a poem about the relationship of a mentor and a mentee that goes beyond this definition. The author writes about how their mentor not only gives guidance, but is someone they trust and can be themselves around. This mentor is seen as a friend that is looked up to for advice, life skills, and encouragement. They were always patient, uplifting, accepting, and understanding, going above and beyond the basic role of a mentor. The mentee expresses in this poem how appreciative and thankful they are to have a mentor and friend in their life. (Genter, 97)
Personally, I have been

blessed to have had many mentors in my life, big and small, but my biggest mentor is probably my best friend, Nicolle. She is two years older than me and we met in middle school. I had no idea that she would end up being my rock and there to pick me up for the past six years. She is always so calm and level-headed despite the situation going on and helps guide me to make smart, rational choices. Whenever I need to vent or just get away from the things going on in my life, Nicolle is the first to be there for me. She has taught me that other people’s opinion do not matter, that sometimes the best thing to do is take a step back and look at the big picture, that you cannot always control what goes on, and that is ok to have a bad day. These are all lessons my mentor, my friend Nicolle taught me. I strive to be someone like that to her and hopefully other people that I have the opportunity to meet. This is what being a mentor means to me.
“My Mentor, My Friend” encompasses how Nicolle has been a mentor to me and how that specific person has affected the author. It shows that being a mentor to someone goes further than just giving advice and guidance. While those components are part of being a mentor, it is much more than just that. To be a mentor is to be a role model and a friend, someone to show another how to navigate through a class or a situation or even life, but also be there to comfort, encourage, and listen.