Mentorship is often viewed as a one-way street—a senior professional pouring knowledge into someone just starting out. But the reality is far more dynamic, rewarding, and multidirectional. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring someone whose hunger to learn and drive to grow reconnected me with a long-forgotten part of myself.
There’s a quiet magic in getting to know someone through mentorship. Not through small talk or surface-level connections, but through real conversations—about where they’ve been, where they want to go, what they’re afraid of, and what drives them to push forward. That kind of relationship reveals more than technical skills or resumes ever could. It reveals character, resilience, curiosity, and ambition. And in helping someone else shape their future, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own journey.
A Return to the Beginning—with the Gift of Hindsight
When I first started mentoring, I thought I was stepping up to “give back.” I had over ten years of experience, countless lessons learned, and plenty of mistakes made along the way. I knew I could help someone avoid the traps I fell into, help them focus on what matters, and accelerate their learning curve. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply it would connect me with the person I used to be—the fresh-out-of-school version of myself, uncertain and wide-eyed, trying to prove I belonged in rooms filled with seasoned professionals.
Mentorship felt like time travel.
Except this time, I wasn’t fumbling through the dark. I had a flashlight—a decade’s worth of insights about what works, what doesn’t, and what’s simply noise. I remembered the times I stayed silent in meetings because I doubted my ideas. I remembered when I mistook busyness for progress, and when I didn’t speak up for myself early enough. And I remembered the small wins that kept me going when things felt overwhelming.
In mentoring someone newer to the field, I had the rare opportunity to revisit those early moments—but with clarity, compassion, and purpose. I could guide someone through them with reassurance: “You’re doing fine. Here’s what I’ve seen work. Here’s what I wish I knew back then.”
The Human Side of Mentorship
It’s easy to think of mentorship in technical terms—career advice, feedback, performance reviews. But the most meaningful aspects are deeply human.
Mentorship is about listening. It’s about creating space where someone feels safe enough to ask what they think might be a “dumb question,” and watching that question lead to a breakthrough. It’s about checking in not just on deadlines or goals, but on how someone’s feeling, how they’re coping, and what’s weighing on their mind.
Through this process, I learned so much about the people I was mentoring. Their determination. Their thought process. The quiet confidence they were building with each new challenge. And the more I learned about them, the more I found myself rooting for their success—not out of obligation, but out of genuine connection.
There’s a quiet joy in seeing someone gain confidence in their own voice, try something new, or finally “get” a concept that once confused them. It’s like watching someone plant roots in an unfamiliar place—and realizing that you got to help water the soil.
Mentorship is Also a Mirror
What surprised me most was how mentoring someone else held up a mirror to my own strengths and growth. Every question they asked required me to slow down, reflect, and explain why things worked the way they did. I had to reframe complex ideas in a way that was approachable. I had to recall not just what I do, but why I do it. That kind of self-awareness is rare when you’re moving fast in your own career.
In doing this, I saw patterns in my own journey—how certain habits helped me move forward, how certain missteps taught me humility, and how certain people helped me more than they’ll ever know. I also began to recognize how much I’ve changed, not just in knowledge, but in perspective. Ten years ago, I was absorbing everything. Today, I can sift through what’s valuable and what’s noise. Ten years ago, I was afraid to ask questions. Today, I encourage others to ask them.
Mentorship reminded me that growth doesn’t always come from climbing higher—it sometimes comes from reaching back and lifting someone else.
Beyond Career: Building Confidence and Community
Mentorship goes far beyond certifications, job titles, or professional development. It builds confidence. It fosters community. It reminds us that none of us truly makes it on our own.
In the tech world—or any fast-paced industry—it’s easy to focus on hard skills and deliverables. But the real work often happens in conversations, in the quiet moments of encouragement, and in the decision to give someone a chance. That’s what mentorship is: choosing to believe in someone, even before they fully believe in themselves.
And when you do, something remarkable happens. That belief begins to take root. They start to speak up more. They start to take risks. They start to see themselves the way you see them—not as someone trying to “make it,” but as someone who already belongs.
That kind of transformation is powerful to witness. And it’s not just their growth—it’s yours, too.
Why I’ll Keep Mentoring
I didn’t start mentoring for the praise, the recognition, or the resume bullet point. I started because I remember how hard it was to figure things out alone. I remember wishing someone would take the time to explain the bigger picture, to help me connect the dots, to tell me I wasn’t failing just because I didn’t know something yet.
Mentoring allowed me to be that person for someone else. And in doing so, I found a renewed sense of purpose in my own career.
The people I mentored may never fully realize the impact they had on me. Their questions, their enthusiasm, and their persistence reminded me of why I love what I do. It grounded me during times when my own workload felt heavy. It gave me fresh perspective on old problems. It reignited my passion for learning, for leading, and for lifting others as I climb.
Mentorship, when done with intention, isn’t just a professional responsibility—it’s a personal privilege.
Concluding Thoughts
To anyone considering becoming a mentor, I’ll say this: it doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to care enough to help someone find their own.
And to anyone seeking a mentor: Ask. Reach out (hopefully to me). People are more willing to help than you might think. And when you find someone who believes in you, show up. Stay curious. Share your wins. Own your voice.
Because one day, you’ll be the one reaching back—offering your own 10+ years of wisdom to someone just starting out. And you’ll realize, as I did, that mentorship isn’t the end of the journey.
It’s a beautiful new beginning.