Guest Blogger: Miss Nebraska
Each year as I celebrate Thanksgiving, I always try to reflect on the blessings I’ve experienced during the year and the people that have come into my life. As we celebrate our Mentees and Mentors this month, this Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for my mentee!
It has now been a full year that we’ve been paired together and what a year it has been! She turned 13 this year and has truly blossomed into a young woman. It’s been so fun to get to know her better and just spend time together. If there is anything I can encourage new mentors in, it's this - just be there. Consistently show up for your mentee and enjoy your time together! These are the moments that I have found to be the most valuable when we are together, and it’s what matters most.
As I have been preparing for Miss America, and gearing up to advocate for and share my own personal stories of the importance of mentorship, a question I have been frequently asked is ‘what is a weakness you have grown in?’ My answer is becoming a better listener. My mentee has taught me this lesson the most. I don’t take our conversations for granted, and each time she speaks, I try to be so intentional about my responses. Oftentimes, we are moving so quickly that we are already thinking about the next thing we want to say or maybe, as a mentor, maybe the next piece of advice we want to give. But truly listening to what she has to say ensures she feels really heard!
I am so thankful for the lessons that my mentee has already taught me, but I am even more thankful for the relationship we are forming. I was nervous to become a mentee, especially to a young person who has already been through more in her life than I will probably ever experience. Becoming her mentor has been the best decision I could have made, and each day together is a gift!
This holiday season, I encourage you to reflect on your mentees or your mentors. Think about how they've really impacted you and what you’ve learned from them. I promise you, it will bring a smile to your face!
The next time we chat will be AFTER Miss America so stay tuned and follow along!! I am so excited to share about MENTOR Nebraska and why mentorship resources are so necessary nationwide!!
Happy Holidays!
Raechel
Miss Nebraska 2024
