Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. -- Proverbs 20:5, KJV Even if you have good mentors, learning wisdom from them is a skill. It's an art that takes a lifetime, and I certainly haven't mastered it. But the wisest people I know do several things. They ask good questions, they observe carefully, and they follow up with those from whom they've learned. Here are some thoughts on applying these patterns in your grad school mentoring relationships: 1. … [Read more...] about The Art of Learning Wisdom from Mentors
Mentoring
The Art of Being Mentored
Now that we've explored some ways to find mentors as an undergrad, I'd like to transition and focus on some elements that make up the art of being mentored. I hope that what I say here will be helpful across a range of mentoring situations, but I think it's particularly applicable to graduate students. Since many graduate students spend more than four years in their programs, mentoring relationships in grad school are often long-term. Professors frequently begin to treat you more like a junior colleague and less like a … [Read more...] about The Art of Being Mentored
Finding Mentors Who Share Your Faith
Last week, I gave some general thoughts on finding good mentors as an undergraduate. This week, I'll talk a bit about finding mentors who share your beliefs. This is not in any way to minimize the value of mentors who have different views about life. I've learned valuable skills, knowledge, and virtues from mentors who had completely different assumptions about the way the world works. It's often quite helpful to have a mentor who will challenge your deepest beliefs about the world. But, as in most things, it's also … [Read more...] about Finding Mentors Who Share Your Faith
Finding Mentors as an Undergraduate
Everyone agrees that mentoring is important at every phase of an academic career, but finding mentors and growing in mentoring relationships can be a challenge. In follow-up to and to expand upon Resource for Grad Student mentoring of Undergraduates (5/29/2012). I'll be doing a series on finding and growing in mentoring relationships as an undergraduate and grad student. I'd welcome comments and stories. Later in the series I'll give a few thoughts on finding mentors as a graduate student, maintaining and growing in … [Read more...] about Finding Mentors as an Undergraduate
Resource for Grad Student mentoring of Undergraduates
In a recent visit to Baltimore, I ate lunch with a group of Johns Hopkins University (JHU) graduate students. Dwight Schwartz (InterVarsity's Graduate & Faculty Ministry Area Director for the MidAtlantic and Campus Staff Member at JHU) couldn't wait to introduce me to Lisa, whose labors align so well with the passions and vision of the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). As a first year graduate student, Lisa organized a mentoring program in which graduate students serve as mentors for undergraduate students. What … [Read more...] about Resource for Grad Student mentoring of Undergraduates