WHAT IS THE NCDA MENTORING PROGRAM?

The Mentoring Program links career development professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills with other, more experienced career development professionals in a mutually beneficial learning situation that fosters professional growth. Participants in the Mentoring Program must be members of NCDA.

Members of the NCDA Board created the Mentoring Program in 2003:

• to meet an expressed need from the membership;
• to promote professional development for members;
• to offer service opportunities for members;
• to facilitate learning for both mentors and mentees; and
• to attract and retain new professionals to the organization.

You are invited to join the NCDA Mentoring Program. Please review the links at the left for full details of the program and how to participate. For a printable Mentoring brochure, click here (pdf 81 kb).

 

Live Your Life Like a Lighthouse and be a Beacon of Hope to Others:
Why Mentoring Is Important

By Pat Schwallie-Giddis, NCDA President, 2009-2010

Several years ago a friend of mine had just published a book of quotes. Since he knew that I was a collector of special sayings and quotes, he sent me a signed copy.  After reading and re-reading the book, it became clear to me that only men had famous quotes or so it seemed.  I called the author of the book and queried him about why he had not included any women, except Eleanor Roosevelt.  He said there weren't many and challenged me to come up with one of my own. 

That began a year- long effort of trying to create an original quote worthy of being published.  After much frustration and soul searching, I came up with what I now believe is my mission in life.  "Live your life like a lighthouse and be a beacon of hope to others."  That quote has stuck with me and has helped guide my life for the past 40 years.  Have you thought about what your mission in life would be?

I have been inspired by many beacons.  Back in 1969, with a brand new Masters in Counseling Diploma in hand, I drove from Wisconsin to Florida to start my career as an elementary school counselor.  Since it was such a new field of counseling there weren't a lot of guides or recommendations about what I should do.  However, it didn't take long before I could see that I needed to have a mentor to assist me in my new journey.  The director of Guidance for Collier County Schools, Dr. Cary Church became my first of many mentors over the next several decades.  Now as I look back over my career, I can name several people who helped me and have become what I call "My Board of Directors".

As my professional career has evolved, I now find myself often in the role of assisting others.  I am proud to serve as a mentor to others. But I haven't forgotten the incredible mentors who have given me the support and the tools that I needed to succeed.  As you are reading this, I would encourage you to do some soul searching of your own. Think about who has mentored you and or who you are currently mentoring.  It is an exercise worth doing and reflecting on as you think about where you are in your career and where you want to go in the future.

Becoming involved with NCDA has provided many wonderful opportunities for me including giving me with the chance to meet the giants in our field.  It has also offered me the chance to actually work with many of them at the state, national and international levels.  Meeting the authors of career development text books, creators of the theories, memorable speakers and workshop presenters definitely is a benefit of being a member of NCDA.   We are truly blessed with some of the best and brightest people in any profession. Spreading that benefit through participation in the Mentoring Program is another blessing.

 My challenge to you is to begin by reflecting on all that you have received by being a member of this organization.  Hopefully your involvement with NCDA has helped you be a better professional and now you are able to reach out to others through the Mentoring Program as you too become a beacon of hope. 

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATing IN THE MENTORING PROGRAM

The benefits of mentoring depend upon the quality and substance of the relationship developed between the mentor and the mentee. Each mentoring dyad will be different. Both "partners" usually benefit from the mentoring relationship, however.