Quote:
Originally Posted by safiq10
Well im speaking on behalf of myself not my team.
|
^ I'm going to be saying the same.
In my opinion, there are two different types of mentors. There are mentors who are there to provide guidance and advice but do work on their own, and there are teachers who educate students in the processes of accomplishing tasks.
It was 2 weeks into build season and our electrical team was sitting doing nothing. So our lead electrical teacher told us to go make parts in the shop. However, since we went through electrical training (not machine and safety training), we had no idea what to do. So a few different mentors showed us how to use different machines. One of our electrical students worked on Chairman's, another learned the rubber wheel, disk sander, bandsaws and drill press, while I was taught the mill and lathe. My first task was to build our axles. So the teacher in charge of me made one while walking me through the process. He then proceeded to cut the one he made in half, saying "I want you to make them. I'm just here to teach you how to do it". He then left. So, I remembered what he told me and proceeded to make 6 perfect axles. Next year when it comes time to make our axles, I will definitely volunteer to make them because I remember how to do it. If that mentor wouldn't have taught me, he would have to make them next year.
That's another plus to having teachers instead of mentors; we learn new skills. We can do things they can do. Not only does that make us viable to teach others, but we free up that teacher's time so he/she can do more important things, such as teaching others or doing things that only they know how to do. For example, our lead programming teacher teaches the programming students how to do certain things in code. Our lead programming teacher is also the only one on our team who knows how to sew our bumpers and iron on our numbers, etc. Since he taught the programming students how to write code, they can do that while he works on our bumpers. When the bumpers are done, he goes back to the students and checks their work, shows them mistakes they made and coaches them on how to fix them.
Not only are our mentors teachers, but they are also role models. They teach us manners. They teach us courteous things to do. The mentors taught me patience this year. Things weren't going to plan by the end of build season. We were at least a week behind. I was getting flustered over it. Most of the students were getting flustered over it. However, the mentors stayed patient and calm and didn't panic. It definitely calmed the mood around our shop.
All of that being said, my ideal mentor isn't just a mentor. He/she is a teacher and a role model. Another thing I didn't say: he/she is a best friend. He/she is your parent. He/she is that coach you looked up to when you played a sport. That's what a mentor is.