I wish someone had told me when I was younger just how powerful a mentor could be.
Back then, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. I thought success came from being strong, independent, and having all the answers. But the truth is, in the early stages of life—when you’re just beginning to dream about who you want to be and where you want to go—it’s not about having all the answers. It’s about having someone who helps you ask the right questions.
That’s where mentorship comes in.
The Early Years: So Much Potential, So Much Uncertainty
When you’re 16, 19, or even 22, life feels like this massive puzzle. You’re trying to fit together your interests, your education, your passions, and somehow build a future from it all. There’s pressure—from parents, society, even from yourself—to “get it right.”
A mentor doesn’t remove the pressure. But they do help you breathe through it.
They’re someone who’s walked a few steps ahead, stumbled a few times, made tough choices—and learned. When you talk to them, you feel seen. Not judged. Not fixed. Just… guided.
What a Mentor Really Does
They don’t hand you a cheat sheet to life. They don’t map out your journey for you. What they do is help you uncover things about yourself you might not have noticed: the way your eyes light up when you talk about a certain topic, or how you hold back because you’re scared of failing.
They ask the questions no one else asks:
-
“What does success look like to you?”
-
“Are you choosing this because you love it—or because you’re expected to?”
-
“Have you considered that failure isn’t the opposite of success, but a part of it?”
And sometimes, all you need is someone to ask those questions.
Small Steps, Big Impact
Looking back, I realize the mentors I had—whether they were teachers, older colleagues, or even friends a few years ahead—didn’t necessarily “change my life” in one big moment. But they changed it in a hundred small ones.
They helped me send that first email.
Apply to that one opportunity I felt underqualified for.
Push through rejection.
Speak up when I usually stayed quiet.
And each of those moments added up.
Why Early Mentorship Matters
Because when you’re young, you’re still writing your story. And having a mentor means you don’t have to write it alone. It doesn’t make you weak—it makes you wise. It’s a shortcut to growth, not by skipping the hard stuff, but by learning how to face it better.
And more than anything? It gives you permission—to dream louder, to fail braver, and to grow deeper.
So if you’re early in your journey—ask for guidance.
Reach out to that professor, that alum, that person whose story inspires you.
You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a conversation.
Because the right mentor won’t walk your path for you.
They’ll just make sure you’re not walking it alone.