How can you use your privilege to empower your mentee from an underrepresented group?

I would start with listening: listen to your mentee, and understand their challenges. It could be especially tricky if you are both from the same minority group (for example: two white women). You may have similar but also different experiences. Maybe you are from a big city and she is from the countryside. You have a PhD, she graduated from a high school but would like to enter your field of expertise. Leave your ego behind the door and try to understand her without any assumptions and judgment. Ask questions. Don't take anything for granted.

As a mentor, I leverage my age and experience to teach young people essential life skills that can help them achieve success. I consider my 33 years of experience in learning personal growth skills while working in a public library as my only privilege. I offer a unique perspective on learning from failure, setting realistic goals, and managing them effectively. I emphasize the significance of vulnerability, constructive feedback, and building resilience. My ultimate goal is to add value to their self-development by showing them love, respect, kindness, acceptance, and a strong desire to celebrate their success in life. I believe in mentoring anyone who has a teachable mindset.

To mentor effectively, I encourage individuals to lead by example in various settings. I support them in their leadership roles and highlight their achievements on public platforms. This positive feedback brings immense joy to their hearts.

From my experience, some people are not aware of how important networking is and that you can plan it. Help your mentee understand how to build business relationships with other people and how they can prepare themselves for these meetings (do research, and understand what she can ask other people for). Show them different ways you can network with others - it doesn't have to be an event, especially if it is difficult for them to be in a big group of people.

In my experience, I have noticed that many people struggle with confidence when it comes to public speaking or engaging with strangers in a networking environment. To empower them, I train individuals on the art of small talk, delivering an elevator pitch, and speaking extemporaneously. I also provide guidance to teenagers on effective communication in various situations. As a promoter of literacy, I encourage them to utilize books, audio, podcasts, and other formats to supplement their learning experience. By providing a range of options, they can choose the format that suits them best and helps them achieve their full potential.

Based on my personal experience, celebrating success is the most rewarding experience one can have. Every individual deserves recognition for their achievements in life. The amount of effort, time, and attention required to accomplish a great task is a memorable moment that should be celebrated with as much enthusiasm as possible. I coach teenagers who eagerly call to share their triumphs. Regardless of the size of the accomplishment, the response is always overwhelming JOY!

Mentoring teenagers has been an incredible experience for me. It's amazing how they make me laugh when I'm struggling to comprehend something, particularly when it comes to technology. I'm not very tech-savvy, but teenagers are quick learners in this regard. To start the discussions, I often share my own vulnerabilities and seek their guidance. One area where I require their assistance is in understanding text shorthand. The slang they use in their generation never ceases to amaze me, and it always leads to some good laughs. These interactions provide an opportunity for young people to discuss their own strengths and weaknesses, encouraging them to always be open to learning.