Have You Thanked a Mentor Today?

January 25 marks Thank Your Mentor Day, a chance for everyone to recognize the important role of mentors in their life.
A Chalkboard with the words Thank You written on itIn November, GoodGuides® visited the UCLA campus with two of our youth mentees who aspire to be doctors. The campus tour invigorated us all, and the academic environment provided unspoken encouragement and promise to our youth who had not been exposed to such tangible possibilities for their future.
But the journey proved to be enlightening in many ways beyond academic possibilities. One of the girls had never seen the ocean. A visit to the Santa Monica Pier was in order. Navigating the hustle-and-bustle of Santa Monica traffic, I looked in the rear-view mirror to see both of our youth staring up in awe at the towering skyscrapers lining the boulevard.
We arrived at the promenade and made our way to the end of the pier just in time to see the sun set.  To watch the sunset reflected on the faces of two awestruck teenagers was truly a remarkable experience. I knew this moment would be one of many that remained etched in their memories for years to come — hopefully one they could reflect back on from the vantage point of successful adults.
As we walked back to the car, Ria scurried up to walk alongside me. Normally shy and soft spoken, Ria erupted into conversation. “I had never thought about how much is outside of Bakersfield. This has been so awesome!” she exclaimed.
The drive back to Bakersfield was a silent one, with my fellow mentor asleep and the youth staring silently out the windows. I smiled to myself, imagining the flood of thoughts that occupied their minds and reflecting upon how this one experience impacted their lives, regardless of where those lives take them.
The Sunset