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Originally Posted by JamesTerm
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Hey all,
I posted this sometime back, and wish to take a moment to speak to the mentors as this may be somewhat off topic from Mentor/Student involvement philosophies, but then... maybe it is on topic... you decide.
Firstly, I do not consider myself a leader as I don't think I am ready or want to take on this responsibility, and I do not claim to have all the answers... what I tell you here is what I've observed, experienced, and want to share it with you. This is about the picture posted here and what it means to me.
When you look at that picture... know that the guy who posted it is one of those followers has been with the same "leader" for the past 14 years, and is very happy where he is. Why is that? I admire my "boss/leader" and he's been a mentor to me (even though I do not tell him this). I get up every morning looking forward to going to work, and taking on the new challenges of the day... all the jobs prior to this where just a job... a boss, and something I dreaded going to.
I tell our students that mentors have mentors, and to find someone better that you at what you do and stay with them. This is what I've done... I know who is better than me and I learn as much as I can from them, and adopt some of their ways as a part of my own... I believe I will continue to learn for the rest of my life... when I'm old... I refuse to be set in my ways... still wanting to learn.
So let me try to bring this back on topic... I know what kind of leader I am committed to and what makes me happy each day. Can I offer this to the students? I don't know! I can say even though I don't claim to be a leader I have taken responsibility among the co-workers in our team and naturally take a lead of things here and there but in a cooperative nature. It is hard to explain, but I feel... as I've learned in the military a good follower can become a great leader.