I learned a lot about mentorship through both receiving mentorship and mentoring others. Good mentorship can go a long way, while bad mentorship can do a lot of harm. In fields dominated by a narrow demographic, I find it is crucial to seek solace in those who have trodden a similar path. It then becomes your duty to pay it forward and mentor those earlier on in your path.
This semester two things stand out in terms of mentorship. I joined an organization called UN IVY STEM Connect Program, which is part of the UNICEF Girls Education initiative (UNGEI). It aims to embolden girls in developing countries to pursue STEM-related fields, as well as draw attention to the practical application of science in everyday life. My responsibilities consist of mentoring and tutoring girls in Tanzania or Rwanda via skype on Saturday mornings using lesson plans we develop over the term. There are 4-5 students chosen from various Ivy League institutions and we are paired with another student from our respective schools. The program has taught me more than I gather I have contributed, and I would say the main takeaway I have gleaned when it comes to mentorship is that there is no hierarchy, and it is a two way street.
The second mentorship experience I have had has been the relationship between my postdoc and I, which is nothing short of a mutually supportive synergy. Hearkening back to advice I give my mentees, as well as advice I continuously receive, one must never feel reluctance to ask questions and seek guidance when needed. My postdoc’s attitude is extremely compatible with my learning style: demanding, but supportive, a good listener with an admirable work ethic and life ethos. In fact, something she told me ealry on in the semester was that “Your self-worth should never depend on science or your data. Science is a mystery for us to unravel and it does not care about you”, and I often find myself reflecting back on this.
If it hadn't been for the highs and lows of the past years, good mentorship and bad, I wouldn’t have found the topic so salient as to dedicate a post to it. So I guess in many ways this post serves as a reminder to myself to be grateful for those who help me carve my path, and as an expression of gratitude, I want to do my best to pay it forward.
