As an analogue to last week’s question, I’m interested in seeing what people have to say about this topic.
We talked last week about the characteristics found in a good mentor. Well, I’ve found that I’m engaged more by certain students and am more inclined to go the extra mile to give them opportunities to learn, grow and excel.
Question of the Week 12-21-03: What are the characteristics found in students that make our experiences as mentors worthwhile and fulfilling?
When they seem interested and ask questions.
When they make an effort to do and learn.
Excitement. 
Not when they switch to gossip or anything else besides what we are doing/attempting to do every time you turn away for a second. It wouldn’t be so bad, other then it pulls 3 or 4 other students with them.
Wetzel
Things are diffrent on the other side.When they bring Oreos and Diet Pepsi to the meetings?
I don’t really consider myself a mentor, I’m just sort of there, taking pictures, helping with outreach and Chairman’s Award. And while the brattier of the students tend to migrate to me (I’m a brat magnet, I know) the students who impress me the most are the ones who care the most, who try their hardest and take it all to heart. If it means something to them, it means something to me. These are the students who put in at least 110% of the team hours, who don’t give up when the robot breaks down time and time again, who are able to laugh despite being disappointed, while fixing the same darn thing for the twentieth time in a row. I love it when our team does well, but I love them even more when we don’t, if that makes any sense. These are the students who inspire me to put in more and more time.
Heidi
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Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson