On the Need for Mentorships

Mentorship, according to Wikipedia "is a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person (known as a mentor) helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person (known as a mentee/protégé). The mentor may be older or younger than the person being mentored, but he or she must have a certain area of expertise. It is a learning and development partnership between someone with vast experience and someone who wants to learn."
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Today more than ever, there is an urgent need for mentoring due to the variety of issues that people have to deal with. Yet unfortunately, there is a clear lack of mentoring opportunities both for the mentors and the mentees and as a result of this, the society as a whole loses.
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The reasons for these challenges can be divided into two: Mentors' challenge and Mentees' challenge.
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On the side of the Mentors, there is an ever increasing pressure to balance the numerous career, family and individual goals in a world that keeps moving at a rate faster than is expected. This leaves mentors with little time to spare to 'support', 'coach' and 'guide' those in need of their mentoring.
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On the mentees' side, there is a problem of attitude and a differing approach to life than the mentors which leads to nonchalance, acts of 'rebellion' and unending  conflict.
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While these  and similar challenges cannot be dismissed, it is important to know that they can be resolved and surmounted.
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Mentors need to become more proactive and involved in both searching for protégés as well as patiently persevering through the painstaking work of mentoring. The onus falls to a large extent on mentors due to their experience and knowledge of the benefits they are inculcating. Additionally, mentoring is a endeavor that can give the mentor a sense of purposeful fulfillment.
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Mentees on their part, must realize that being mentored is not about being handed 'opportunities' on a platter of gold nor is it a 'right' such that they show an undeserved sense of entitlement. It is a privilege that a mentor devotes time to their mentee and thus every moment must be given its due attention with a full sense of respect and responsibility.
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Conclusively, having more Mentorships will lead to a seamless transfer of knowledge, skills and wisdom and thus maintenance of a functional social order in our society.
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Haidarwali 201711221038hrs