Real World Mentoring Essay

Perhaps you’ve heard about mentoring. Maybe you’ve even thought about mentoring someone. If you have a lot of knowledge that you would like to share with the world, then mentoring is a fantastic way to impart your information to another for both of your benefits. While being a mentor is more about sharing your knowledge, a lot of people who go through the process find that it is as much a learning process as it is a teaching one.

For the most part, mentoring is when you teach someone else skills or knowledge that you have acquired. Usually, mentors and mentees engage in this activity in a controlled setting, like at a school or workplace. However, while that does have some intrinsic value, there is a lot to be said for “real-world” mentoring

While traditional mentoring has its place, real-world mentoring is a step beyond, allowing both mentor and mentee to have a greater chance of success.

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring

We’ve briefly touched on the fact that you don’t have to be old and wise to have enough experience to impart onto others. Even if you are relatively young, if you have the necessary knowledge, you can be a mentor. When discussing the mentor/mentee relationship, there are critical differences that come across when both people are the same age, rather than one being older than the other. Here is a breakdown of both methods.

Older Mentor

More sense of respect and admiration

Seen as an authority figure

Bonds are built on reverence and advice

Peer Mentor

More sense of comfort and