“Choose a Mentor,” Succeed in School: Study and Life Skills for Youth (2021)
“Choose a Mentor,” Succeed in School: Study and Life Skills for Youth
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Choose a Mentor
Take notes and answer questions here.
Review
Think of someone you respect who you trust to give you advice. Share what you admire about this person. Why is it important to have people like this in your life?
Learn
In Samoa, longboats called fautasi are raced in competitions. These fautasi are 30 meters long and have crews of 45–50. Each boat has a captain and a drummer. The captain calls out commands and the drummer sets the rowing pace with the drum.
Often, the most precise rowers, those who are best at keeping the tempo with the captain, are in the back of the fautasi, farthest from the captain. The strongest rowers, those who are the largest and can give the crew its speed, are in the middle of the boat. The rowers who need the most help, who may be weak or new to the crew, sit closest to the captain. They learn from him and become stronger and more precise.
Like the rowers in the fautasi, sometimes we feel strong and can help those around us. Sometimes we are precise and know exactly what to do. At other times, we need extra help from a “captain” or mentor. A mentor is a person that you respect and admire. This person can help you through challenges and give you advice and encouragement. Mentors can also help you overcome negative thoughts and behaviors. As you progress in your education and think about your future career, a mentor can help you reach your goals.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate mentor and captain. For example, He patiently mentored the apostle Peter by loving him and seeing his potential. He asked Peter questions that helped him to think differently. He taught Peter and showed him by example how to become a powerful prophet to lead His Church.
There are people who can mentor you also—such as your parents, Church leaders, or schoolteachers. You may also know others in your community who can be your mentors.
Activity
Think about the people you know whom you respect and admire. Is there someone you trust who could help give you counsel regarding decisions you must make about your education and future job opportunities? Who could be your “captain” or mentor? Write the names of two or three people here:
Look at your list of possible mentors. Pray about these individuals and ask Heavenly Father to help you identify someone who would be a positive mentor in your life. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
After you have chosen a possible mentor, speak with this person and ask if they are willing to mentor and guide you. Talk with them about your goals, and ask for help with your goals. As you seek advice from your mentor, ask them to share experiences and things they have learned. Ask them to share how they reached their goals and how they overcame challenges.
You may have different mentors at different times in your life. For example, a youth leader might be a mentor during your teenage years. A mission president might be your mentor if you decide to serve a mission. Later in your life, you may have an older family member or someone in your ward or branch who can mentor you.
Talk with Your Family
Talk with your family about the individual you would like as a mentor. Ask them to share experiences they have had with a “captain” or mentor who guided them.