Mentoring:

I have not had a direct opportunity to mentor and advise students in an official capacity. However, I would strive to ensure that I provide the same skill set that my mentors and advisors have shown me. I have seen first-hand the difference a good advisor and mentor can make, and the difference it can make in a student's success. Time and time again I have seen from undergrad to graduate that mentoring and advising is crucial.

I feel that advising and mentoring should honestly be the same. However, I realize that advising often tends to helping students navigate their college career, understanding various requirements and other nuances a student will encounter during their education, while also helping to ensure the student takes the courses and path necessary for them to transition to their next step effectively. While mentoring would be more personal, ensuring the student is learning the skills necessary for their future and continued success. Perhaps a way that makes sense to me is that advising is more like building a path for a student, while mentoring is instilling the tools a student will use to become their own advisor.

Marcdante and Simpson [1] provided interpretation aligns with my own experience with my mentors and advisors. My physics mentor acting both as an advisor and mentor, had been the very inspiration to applying to graduate school for physics. My computer science advisor was great, but my physics advisor will always be my undergrad mentor. Therefore, my undergrad advisor is a perfect model enduring student success.

[1] Marcdante K, Simpson D. Choosing When to Advise, Coach, or Mentor. J Grad Med Educ. 2018 Apr;10(2):227-228. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-18-00111.1. PMID: 29686766; PMCID: PMC5901806.

AI Notice: Google Gemini was used for review and provided minor text formatting and typos. The original text before editing is available upon request.