#nmm2018

Another January is upon us, bringing cold temperatures (hello, bomb cyclone, whatever in the world that was), grey skies, bare trees, and the desire to hibernate. January is supposed to be a time to set goals and go charging forth into a new year, unburdened by past failures or expectations. Instead, it seems like the perfect time to sit around and dwell on those things over a giant mug of hot tea. To wallow a bit, perhaps. Stew in our shortcomings.

But, of course, in just a few short months, spring will be here. And the reality is, if we miss our chance to reflect and set goals now, we will be woefully unprepared when it’s time to kick things into high gear. So, what should you be doing, now, to get ready for the year to come? How do you make sure that you are collecting the information that you need, that you are heading in the right direction, that you are reaching and stretching in the ways that you should, that you’re not missing out on opportunities?

These are the things that mentors do for us. And these are the reasons that you should seek out mentors, wise counselors, advocates, and sponsors to support you. And it takes all of those people, it takes a network, to support you on your path.

A single mentor is rarely one-size-fits-all for the different goals, roles, and developmental needs in your life. We all need multiple mentors, or rather a network of mentors, for the different challenges that we face. As we celebrate National Mentoring Month this January, consider the gaps where you need to be cultivating mentoring relationships to support you in your growth and development. We could all benefit from several mentors as we navigate our professional and academic lives, make decisions about our career, and face challenges and opportunities personally.

On our website you can find stories of Wake Foresters who have intentionally built mentoring networks to guide them throughout various aspects of their lives. Use their experiences to learn how to increase your own network of mentors. Additionally, check out our tips for how to find and seek out mentors as you grow your network. And, register for one of our upcoming mentoring workshops for students, faculty, staff, and alumni.