I have experienced a number of informal mentoring relationships, both as a mentor and a mentee. On both sides of mentoring, I have been rewarded by either acquiring knowledge and skills useful to myself, or by watching someone I invested my time and energy into develop and grow. Someone who mentored me in the past is my former professor at Daytona State College: Eric Breitenbach, a professional documentary filmmaker. Eric noticed something in my work that got his attention, and when he did, he decided to invest time into developing me as an videographer and artist – but it didn’t stop there.
I enrolled as a student at Daytona State because it was well known for its photography school: The Southeast Center for Photographic Studies. I chose a brand new program, interactive media, which offered a wide range of education in digital arts. As part of the program, I enrolled in Eric’s beginning videography class. When I submitted a rough cut of a project proposal, he said, “I think this will win awards.” He was excited about the project and he began to mentor me in the area of videography, beyond our class time. He provided access to resources that I did not have otherwise, such as cameras, lighting, and studios that were normally reserved for advanced photography students. He met with me to set up lighting and when I had assembled a crew for interviews to show me audio recording techniques. He passed on to me a wealth of knowledge and skills that I would not have normally received as a beginning student in his class. The project did not win awards, but it was selected to represent Daytona State College at the Brouhaha Student Film & Video Showcase.
As we got to know each other and I felt comfortable sharing parts of my personal story with him, Eric continued his support of me. When I submitted an application for Who’s Who on College Campuses, Eric contacted the photography and interactive media program chairperson and recommended that I not only be included in Who’s Who, but that I should be named outstanding student of the year for the interactive media program. And his support of me went further, as he recommended me for scholarships and wrote a letter to the college’s Hall of Fame committee (unbeknownst to me) to say that I should be considered for induction.
During the awards ceremony prior to graduation, Eric had an aisle seat. I remember walking past him each time my name was called for an award. He had a huge smile and we high-fived each other. I was awarded all three: Who’s Who, most outstanding student in interactive media, and induction into the college’s Hall of Fame. All my professors contributed to my education, but Eric is one who decided to take me on as a mentee and spoke up on my behalf to make sure I was recognized in a way that would have significant impact as I stepped away from that college. My being inducted into Daytona State’s Hall of Fame impressed Stetson University when I applied to its digital arts program and likely helped me get accepted and admitted. After graduation from Stetson as outstanding senior in my program there as well, I was sought out by someone at Embry-Riddle to work for the university. Eric’s mentoring and guidance were invaluable to me and helped me feel confident about myself and my work as an artist. For whatever reason, he chose to invest in me and make sure I had the skills to succeed in my field– and that I would be on the right path moving forward.
“There’s lots of information that needs to be passed, and skills that need to be transferred, and knowledge that needs to be shared, and mentoring is a great way to do that.”
Lori stohs
A time that I informally mentored someone was at a previous job, when I had decided to leave my position to invest time in my senior project at Stetson. I had not revealed my intentions to leave, but I knew a young man who could fill my role when I did. I knew he would need skills and knowledge passed on to him and I began to mentor him so he would be prepared to move up when I left. He was a recent college grad and very new to his role in the organization. I mentored him in the areas of: website management; writing and conducting interviews; photography and videography; photo and video editing; social media management; keeping files organized; and time management. Ultimately, he did assume my role there and is doing very well today. We stay in touch and he recently told me that he received a raise and that the organization has undergone some beneficial restructuring that allows him freedom to exercise the photography and video skills I passed on to him. He still contacts me for advice, mostly for video critique and to discuss office politics.
Investing in him took a bit of work while it was happening, but the reward is knowing how well he is doing on the other side of the mentoring relationship. Helping him grow also helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I realized how much I had learned about the areas I mentored him in and I was confident in passing on those skills to him because of this. The process helped to improve my communication skills about the topics and as he became more confident while acquiring skills and knowledge, I felt a sense of fulfillment and pride. In the past, as a business owner I “trained” employees. This was different in the aspect of development. I was aware that my intentions were to mentor him in certain areas for the benefit of developing him for advancement. And I was able to leave my position knowing I had prepared someone to fill it. I was changed by mentoring him, in that I gained leadership and communication skills, which were proven by his achievements following the mentoring. I was also changed because I now realize I have the ability to mentor someone, as I was mentored, and make positive, lasting change in a life. There is definitely power in that and in having it happen for you.
As Lori Stohs explained in the video, Mentor Series: The Power of Mentoring, “There’s lots of information that needs to be passed, and skills that need to be transferred, and knowledge that needs to be shared, and mentoring is a great way to do that” (Stohs, 2016).
Stohs, L. (2016, May 1). Mentor series: The power of mentoring [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2021 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TBJz6S_BoU&feature=emb_logo (Links to an external site.)
Cynthia Puckett | MSLD500 | Feb. 27, 2021| Dr. Rietsema | The Power of Mentoring
Cynde Puckett-Valenti 