I’ve completed one term of my AmeriCorps service year with the Bain and Co. Team at English High School and it seems as though I am finally making some progress with the students that I mentor.  I realize that we are all having unique experiences with our own students, but I would like to share some mentoring tips that I have found quite useful up to this point.

1) Leave any preconceived notions at the door.  Months of training cannot possibly prepare anyone for each scenario that they may face. The best we can do is be open-minded and eliminate our misconceptions on where our students are coming from.  I have found that my most meaningful conversations with students have been the result of candid conversations where I engaged in active listening.

2) Remain positive.  There will inevitably be days when it seems as though negative events outweigh the positive ones.  Remember that there may be other people on your team, as well as your students, that could be depending on that positive energy you provide.  If you need to take a break and sit down for a minute, go for it.  Just do what you need to do to remain fresh and positive.

3) Appreciate small strides.  If one of your students comes to you excited about passing a test, take into consideration that that student felt it necessary to show YOU that they did well.  You may very well want to further improve that grade and thought that they could have done better, but appreciate the fact that they are excited about the grade and wanted to share it with you.

4) Don’t be afraid to diverge.  We sometimes find ourselves feeling guilty partaking in conversations with our students that take them away from coursework, but sometimes, it is necessary. That 3-minute conversation about their weekend may open a whole new realm of possibilities for you to engage with your mentee in the future.

5) Show your students that you are HUMAN.  My most influential breakthroughs have occurred when I show my own humility and admit mistakes.  I have found that when my students recognize my own imperfections they can relate to me better.  This final thought demonstrates one of City Year’s founding stories- UBUNTU- I am because you are.  I consider myself a teammate in my students’ success.

These are only five of my tips for mentoring, and although I have found them to be quite successful for me and my students so far, that does not mean they are universal. By no means do I consider this an exhaustive list and I look forward to further contributing to it as I continue my journey.