As I sat there, reading the message from a student who had asked me to be her mentor, a flood of emotions overtook me. The initial surprise quickly gave way to a sense of gratitude and humility. I had crossed paths with her a few years ago during a mock interview session through my alma mater, not realizing the lasting impact it would have on her. Now, for her final project, she had reached out to me for guidance.
Amidst this request, a familiar question echoed in my mind: “Am I Good Enough?”
The Beginning
Over the years, I’ve battled my own demons of imposter syndrome. As a woman navigating the tech industry and as someone who identifies as neurodivergent, the weight of self-doubt often presses down, and hard. Yet, it’s through the act of teaching and mentoring that I found a powerful antidote to this uncertainty.
My teaching career began in 2015 at The University of Dayton. I was an adjunct professor there for several years, teaching graphic design majors about web design. Fast forward to 2018 and I began teaching at Stivers School for the Arts where I juggled the search for full-time employment alongside a part-time teaching role. Not to mention, the transition from teaching college students to high school students brought its own set of surprises. College students frequently arrive with a degree of skepticism and a certain attitude, but they tend to be relatable when you’re early in your career. Teenagers, on the other hand, are genuinely shook when you can stay updated with the latest TikTok fad. Shaping the budding talents of high school students proved to be a greater challenge, but it was equally, if not more, rewarding.
Journey to the Center of…Me?
What I soon realized was that teaching and mentoring transcended the simple act of passing on knowledge: it became a profound voyage of self-discovery and served as a lifeline for my mental well-being. Even during periods when I wasn’t actively engaged in project work, teaching allowed me to keep my skills honed and my passion alive. The process of creating a lesson plan compelled me to revisit and articulate my own understanding of various subjects, reinforcing and expanding my knowledge base. In doing so, it not only empowered me to be a better mentor but also instilled a newfound confidence in my own abilities. I actually do know what I’m talking about!
I grow with each person I mentor. It’s one of the most beneficial and rewarding parts of my career.
In 2021, my journey took a new turn when I received an offer for a dreamy full-time UX role, marking the end of my teaching tenure. While I anticipated missing my students, I couldn’t have foreseen just how deeply I would long for the mentoring aspect of my previous role.
FINDING THAT SPARK AGAIN
As we all know, life has its way of throwing curveballs. Back in May of this year, I found myself laid off from my full-time UX role, navigating the challenging terrain of unemployment once again. The long and grueling months of job hunting have begun to take a toll on my self-worth. The rejection emails and missed opportunities cast a long shadow over my once stable self-confidence.
It was during this last week –one of the hardest I’ve had to face this summer of job hunting– that this student reached out. I won’t deny that it brought tears to my eyes. Not because I doubted my ability to guide her, but because I realized that even when I felt broken, I still had something valuable to offer. The act of mentoring isn’t just about imparting knowledge; it became about reaffirming my own worth and resilience.
THANK YOU
Little does she know that while I am thrilled to help her on her journey, this student is unknowingly helping me reclaim my spirit. She is a testament to the idea that even when you’re at your lowest point, you still have the capacity to make a positive impact on someone else’s life.
The ability to teach and mentor is a reminder that even in my darkest moments, I possess the power to inspire and guide others on their own journeys. And when I agreed to be this student’s mentor, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope: a spark of optimism that had been dimmed by months of job rejections.
I can’t wait to see what she and I create together.
Embrace the opportunity to inspire and guide, for in doing so, you might just find your own path to self-discovery and growth.