What are some best practices for building a strong relationship with your mentor in college?

3 Seek and accept feedback

The third step to building a strong relationship with your mentor is to seek and accept feedback. Feedback is a crucial part of learning and improving, and your mentor can offer you valuable insights and perspectives that can help you grow as a student and a person. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback from your mentor, whether it is on your academic work, your skills, your goals, or your challenges. Also, be open and receptive to feedback, even if it is constructive or critical. Listen to your mentor's feedback, reflect on it, and act on it.

4 Respect boundaries and differences

The fourth step to building a strong relationship with your mentor is to respect boundaries and differences. Your mentor is not your friend, your parent, or your therapist. They are a professional who has volunteered to share their knowledge, experience, and network with you. Therefore, you should respect their boundaries and avoid asking for inappropriate favors, personal information, or emotional support. You should also respect their differences and diversity, and appreciate their unique background, perspective, and style.

5 Give and receive value

The fifth step to building a strong relationship with your mentor is to give and receive value. Your mentoring relationship is not a one-way street, where you only take from your mentor. You should also give back to your mentor by showing interest in their work, sharing your feedback and ideas, offering your help and support, and recognizing their achievements and contributions. By giving and receiving value, you can create a mutually beneficial and rewarding mentoring relationship.

6 Celebrate successes and learn from failures

The sixth and final step to building a strong relationship with your mentor is to celebrate successes and learn from failures. Your mentoring relationship is a journey of learning and growth, where you will encounter both victories and setbacks. You should celebrate your successes with your mentor, and thank them for their role in helping you achieve them. You should also learn from your failures with your mentor, and seek their advice on how to overcome them and move forward. By celebrating successes and learning from failures, you can strengthen your bond with your mentor and your confidence in yourself.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?