Thursday, November 20, 2014
Mentor- Peers- Mentors- Peers
One of my cohort posted on this subject last week in response to comp tale 101, and I would like to comment on it as well. As a first semester grad student, I was initially a bit overwhelmed with the fact that I not only had a mentor, but that they would be in constant contact with me and analyzing my work as well. With the semester coming to a close, sort of, I have been grateful that this was a facet of the assistantship program. The peer who inspired this blog discussed how she was successful with the help of her peers rather than faculty members; I believe both are viable sources of mentorship for different reasons. Faculty can share years of experience helpful to everyone while peers, especially higher at levels, can offer specific, immediately needed advice on a range of subjects. Though I'm nto sure if I would have "turned out" the same way had I not had a mentor, I am certainly appreciative and content with the way things went.
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I feel a pull to comment here, since we share a mentor. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me just say that I have noticed how much you have grown in just one semester! When we began, you sad you felt shy and nervous in the classroom, but it seems now that your "awkward" feeling has been replaced with a bit of...dare I say it...confidence? I am glad we are co-mentees. You've helped me remember that teaching requires fun and laughing with your enthusiasm.
Second, I agree with you that my initial thoughts about what a mentor did/was resembled an image of a nun schoolteacher, correcting every mistake with a "thwak" of a ruler. Now, I have found the experience invaluable. I don't know how they pair us up with mentors or each other, but they got it right this time, in my opinion.
I was really nervous about having a mentor assigned initially. When we had meet and greet my mentor was not in the country, so I didn't meet him until the second week of school. I was nervous about having my teaching methods critiqued by someone I had never met and having to develop a "forced" relationship. However, I am very thankful now that we were assigned mentors. I have really appreciate the experience of having Elmar to bounce ideas off of, learn from, and just talk to. It's nice to get information from someone who was recently in my own position and knows everything that a graduate student at BSU should know. I have definitely gotten to know more about the school, the writing program, and Muncie from Elmar. I'm very happy that incoming graduate students are able to have this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteBelieve or not, I am sure our mentors also learned from us in good ways. Not just new pedagogical methods, but they could recall the moment they first stood alone in class. The first year earned experiences of them and they learned the pure passion of us during 4 months. That's why I love this system as well.
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