I wanted to talk today about the topic of mentorship. I actually talked to a student just today who didn’t believe she had any mentors and wasn’t actually even sure what a mentor was. She thought a mentor was an older, more experienced doctor who could teach you things he or she has learned throughout the years.
That’s a fair answer, but it did get me thinking about how we view mentorship as students in our profession, and how we look to those who came before us for answers and guidance. And you know what? I think it’s time we actually redefine what mentorship is for us.
Just last year I attended a conference, and in one of the presentations, the topic was Social Media Integration in an Optometric Practice. What’s crazy, at least in my eyes, was they spent about 20 minutes or so explaining what a hashtag was. Every student who was there was looking at each other with the same expression on their face, “are you serious? You need 20 minutes to figure out what a hashtag is?” But you know what? The best part is that every single older doctor there was either asking questions or furiously scribbling notes, doing whatever they could to catch every single word from the speaker. Not only that, they were turning to students beside them and asking them what a “tweet” was and what a filter is on Instagram.
Why do we view mentorships as a one way street? Why is it always us looking at older, more experienced doctors. Instead let’s look at it as a relationship, and shouldn’t every relationship you have with anyone be one where it mutually benefits both parties?
So think about that the next time you meet any one of these doctors, or any one actually in any setting: younger or older, student or doctor. Don’t look at them as just resources for you to take advantage of. Form a genuine relationship with them and watch as each of your ideas and perspectives open up possibilities you could never even imagine individually.
Be sure to check out our next blog with Harmin further discussing modern mentorship and building a relationship with a mentor.
