Written by: Vess Vassileva-Clarke and the Mentoring Committee Marketing & Communication Team
The end of the year is always a good time to pause for reflection that inspires New Year success. The Mentoring Committee would like to do just that—a recap of NORDP mentor program participants’ reflections. In preparation for the National Mentoring Month in January, we are ready to dive into a new year of sharing and shared mentoring experiences. Below are a few highlights of the thoughts, comments, and opinions of current and past participants in the NORDP mentoring program for inspiration. See what your peers have had to say since 2018 about the NORDP Mentoring program and its meaning to them.
Be inspired. Be inspirational. Explore new ways to connect and grow every day. Become a NORDP mentor/mentee!
![Image with two testimonials. The testimonials are as follows:
"[The NORDP Mentoring program provided me with] a lot of support for navigating an uncertain organizational situation."
"I loved my mentor and she was incredibly helpful. She provided advice about how she and her institution did certain things, and it was just great to have a friend!"](https://nordpnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/being-a-mentor-has-helped-me-be-more-reflective-about-my-own-roles-and-has-helped-me-develop-some-characteristics-that-might-not-have-gotten-my-attention-otherwise.-one-of-my-mentees-was.png?w=1024)
“Being a mentor has helped me be more reflective about my own roles and has helped me develop some characteristics that might not have gotten my attention otherwise. One of my mentees was in a big growth period to begin with and had an unexpected career change opportunity that came up during the mentoring year, and I felt like I had to be very intentional in providing them mentoring support through that tricky period.”
“[The NORDP mentoring program allowed me to be able] to discuss issues/challenges and get advice as well as share experiences.”
“Both mentor and mentee benefit from the relationship. I’ve developed long-lasting relationships and even friendships with the people I’ve been paired with through the Mentoring Program. I’m a lot more aware of the field of RD and what is happening at other institutions because of the network I’ve built through the Mentoring Program, which brings value back to my own institution.”
“[The NORDP Mentoring program] enabled me] to meet with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. I particularly love being able to talk through best practices with other mentors.”
“[The NORDP Mentoring program gave me the] ability to troubleshoot on issues with mentor/peers and validation of frustrations that I experience.”
“[The NORDP Mentoring program helped me with] building a close-knit network of individuals throughout NORDP. The mentees and mentor I’ve been matched with through the program have become close colleagues and friends. The relationships lasted well beyond the formal one year duration of the program.”
“[A benefit of participating in the NORDP Mentoring program is] connecting with others and getting another perspective.”
“Every year, I find the learning and exchange of institutional practices, solutions, and approaches to be the most valuable. Whether it’s me or my mentor, there’s always someone who is going through something new or trying to work a problem and the external conversation always starts new pathways forward.”
NORDP News 