Mentoring. Has anyone had a positive experience mentoring or being mentored?

Question

I have to write an atricle and need some stories.
Thanks

Answer 1

I worked for a summer camp for several years. I loved it, it's such a rewarding job.
When I was a counselor, I had a girl in my cabin group, just a normal 10 yr old girl, often tried my patience to see what she could get away with. We all had a blast together for the two week session and I was delighted to see many of the same face return the following summer.
This girl is now 16. Last year she came to camp as a CIT. Being a CIT is quite a stressful and intense period of time especially for so young a person. She would often chat with me and ask my advice on things and life.
I never knew the impact I had on her until I attended a chapel service her group had put together for the other campers. The service was about change and hope. Each CIT read their inspiring stories that they'd found in Chicken Soup and when it got to be her turn, I was surprised and proud. Her story was about her, how she had changed and grown into a better person through attending camp every summer, how she had been mentored and now saw the opportunities she had before her and how she hoped that one day she could be just like her role model: me. I almost cried in front of everyone. I was so proud that (despite being petrified of public speaking) she had stood up there in front of everyone & shared her personal success with them.
I know that this girl will go on to do great things & I feel priviliged to have been able to share my knowledge with her.

Answer 2

I've always had fairly good luck with mentoring junior programmers. But a good example is the Montessori schools, in their primary classes consisting of 3, 4 and 5 year olds, the 5 year olds mentor the 3 year olds and help them get the hang of doing work and adjusting to the new school environment.