My Mentor Research Paper

One of the biggest influences that can shape not only a child's development, but also a teenager's and young adult's, is that of a mentor. Defined by our book, a mentor is, "anyone who provides guidance-teachers, older siblings, strangers, and, especially, parents. All of them are affected by their culture, and thus culture shapes a child's cognition" (pg. 176). Throughout my life growing up, I have had many mentors that have helped me learn, hone my skills, and teach me lessons that they themselves have acquired from years of experience. Out of all my mentors, the person that had the biggest affect on me growing up, and even to this day, is my mother. When my sibling and I were growing up, my father worked a full time job, and also attended law school full time, so he was busy most of the time either sleeping, working, or studying. Looking back, he was a role model of what it means to work hard, and do what it takes to achieve your goals. A trait that I now try to emulate as a young adult trying to pursue a successful career, all of which I acquired from watching my father work as hard as he can to provide for his family. While my father was going through school and
work, my mother was a stay-at-home mom, who primarily raised my sister and I. Constantly being around her, caused her to shape my mental development and characteristics. As a mentor, my mother instilled in me from a very young age, how to treat people with respect and manners.
As far back as I can remember, she always had my sister and I say please and thank you, hold doors open for people, look them in the eyes while shaking hands, and stand up to greet people if you were previously sitting down. All of these have become second nature to me, and I don't even hesitate to perform them, since she has repeatedly showed me these social skills since I was a child. Nowadays, I am often complemented by my bosses, co-workers, and even peers on my etiquette and manners, something that seems to be a dwindling trait in young adults my age. All of which, I attribute to my mother as I was being raised, and even her constantly reminding me to patient and show respect to this
day. Even today, when I need to seek advice on nearly anything that has been troubling me, I can seek comfort and guidance from my mother. She continues to be a mentor for me, even as I approach adulthood. Last month, I was having issues with my co-workers, and I was unsure how to approach the subject to my boss, and explain the situation in a way that would result in a solution that would yield the best possible results. The first person I sought guidance from was my mother. She told me to not only try to find a solution for my co-works, but also to think of something that I could do differently too. She explained to me, that everyone in a department works as a team, and most of the time problems arise from multiple areas, and no matter what, there is always something I could do to help the situation. When I went to talk to my boss, she was very appreciative that I not only brought to her attention the issue I was having with my co-works, but that I also wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help resolve the situation. She seemed to be impressed by the fact that I did not put all of the blame on my co-works, and took some responsibility myself. None of this resolution would have happened if it was not for me talking to my mother about the problem, and her mentoring me through years of her own experience dealing with people and problems. Growing up I have had many mentors, but none of them have had the biggest affect on me like my mother. Growing up she repeatedly instilled manners into both my sister and I, and groomed us to become responsible and caring adults. Even as I approach adulthood, she is a constant mentor that I can go to and seek advice from. I can honestly say, if it was not for her, I would not be the person I am today. She has taught me so much in a little over two decades, and continues to shape my thought process and development for the better. I am very lucky to have someone like her to help me transition to different phases in my life, and I look forward to continue seeking guidance and wisdom from her. She has been one of the most influential mentors I have ever had, and I am very lucky to be able to call her my mother.