Communication Strategies

Mentorship has been with us for long time, probably it is as old as mankind. The concept was introduced by the ancient Greek and later institutionalized during the Middle Ages (Hill, 56). Mentorship as defined by (Hill, 21) is a process whereby the mentored receive values, passions, traditions as well as attitudes from the mentor. The aim of this is to help transform lives of the mentored through the internalization of the shared ideas (Hester, 79). Research has shown that students well being is affected as they move up to graduate schools. Many factors like lack of self esteem, sense of insecurity and even great workload are some of the problems students have to contend with. During this transition period, studies suggest that students go through a lot of anxiety and stress, to cope up with the demands of education. Mentoring therefore is one process the students can be helped to cope with the changes around them as they move up the academic ladder (Hill, 58).

Effects of the Mentor on the Student
The willingness of any mentor to share his or her own personal values, valuable time and skills as well as talents on any student is the beginning of encouragement to the student. Exposure to any mentor ready to share is the most vital experience a good student would count on (Hill, 34). First for the goals and objectives of the experience and relationship to be realized, proper stuructures have to be in place. Then the second most important thing is that the mentor must be a good match for the student. Thus in such environment, the student would find it easy to get new insights and personal rewards.

One great effect, mentorship has on the students is career advancement. Research has shown that most mentored students were likely to advance faster in their professional career than those who are not mentored (Hester, 68). Most students see their mentors as role models, as source of mental support and encouragement. The students thus benefit from such mentors who set examples.

Students would much benefit from those mentors who enjoy the learning process and understand their needs. In this sense, the mentors would be seen by the students as a source of support and encouragements. Research has also shown that most students find encouragement to learn from mentors who provided intellectual stimulation. Students would rapidly take advantages of learning opportunities once they realized the mentors efforts to facilitate their learning process (Hill, 63).

Research has underscored the vital role mentorship plays in improving the performance of women. A study showed that where women had equal earnings with their male counterparts, the women had at least one mentor (Kraus, 68). This shows how mentorship can improve the earning power of women long after school.

Mentorship program helps the adolescents establish proprieties as well as have long term goals well set. The adolescents have been found to experience a lot of problems when it comes to career planning. Those adolescents who pass well in high school seem to like and know everything. It is at this point that most find it hard to choose what to do with their lives. Therefore this is the point where mentors would offer a mature guidance to the students. Mentors like businessmen, scientists, artists and even scholars would be suitable at this stage of development. The students would be able to develop vision of their future, and focus their energies to particular goals in life (Kraus, 72).

Mentorship programs could have a positive influence on the students from disadvantaged populations. Studies have shown that there are greater outcomes when students from poor socioeconomic background are mentored by professionals who possibly faced the same adversities (Hester, 96). The bright students from disadvantaged populations could be matched by professionals from all backgrounds. This would help lift the students low self-confidence. The mentors would also be able to inspire the students as their encounters develop. These disadvantaged students would get the sense of the course of the professionals education and subsequent lifestyle (Kraus, 78). The students would always derive inspirations from such mentors that may help them to focus and set long term goals. These relationships can always built beyond the schools compounds, as mentors may become colleagues later in life.

Students mentorship can be very mush beneficial in improving social relationship. A group mentoring  mostly witnessed in sporting activities, may help students nurture their social skills. The group mentoring programs would help the students develop their communication skills, through less inhibition. Through such programs, students may as well learn conflict resolution skills and how to manage their anger (Hester, 65).

Mentorship programs are also vital in preparing the students for future mentoring roles. A good mentor would therefore inculcate skills and experiences that would essentially help the students in their future roles. Through positive criticisms, for example, a student would be able to learn and adjust to the requirement of the study (Gray  Smith, 1546).

Mentorship relationships do not normally just end (Hester, 67). A true one would stay on and both the mentor and the mentored would continue to learn from one another. Mentorship is a process, and therefore needed at every stage in life. It would mutual help those in such relationships to grow in the professions as well as in their personal lives. It thus leaves indelible imprint on the life of the mentored and the mentor.

Mentorship Shortcomings
Much can be done by the mentors, but one paramount factor that determines the success of any mentorship program is the collaboration of the students. The influence of any mentorship program would start with the collaboration of the students (Gray  Smith, 1547). The performance and future success of any student is always greater for those who collaborate. The effects of mentors would not be realized much on those who do not co-operate. This therefore shows that mentorship programs are collaborative efforts between the mentor and the students.

Conclusion
Mentorship programs have strong influence on the overall growth and development of students. It is both beneficial to their personal and professional development. It is therefore paramount that parents identify mentors for their children at a very early age. Teachers should form the first line of mentors while all professionals should offer mentoring sessions to students as a way of giving back to the society. All the efforts of the mentors must be repaid by the students through collaboration.