Teacher’s desk - Mentoring, a gateway for good grades
Apr 08, 2007
MENTORING can be defined as the art of helping somebody attain success or achieve goals through the help of an experienced person in that field.
By Moses Komakech
MENTORING can be defined as the art of helping somebody attain success or achieve goals through the help of an experienced person in that field.
Many students believe that it is reading notes and textbooks from cover to cover that helps one pass exams, but it is much more than that.
At Kibuli Secondary School, when I thought I had read all the required textbooks, and still would not pass as I wanted, I consulted a teacher, who told me that it is an old system to only read notes.
He advised me to discuss with friends as well. I heeded to the advice and the results were good.
I now consider him as a mentor. In the power of focus, by Les Hewitt et al, the authors say that to be successful in any business, you must get mentors –– people who have done similar things and succeeded.
The book says such people know all problems you may encounter running the business and how to get through. So for students, getting advice from teachers helps, since they were one time students.
In my interactions with successful students, I have learnt that in order to pass exams, one must first believe they are capable of passing and then think of how to do it,.
This is best done with the guidance of a mentor. Teachers should help students think positively. When you think negatively –– that you cannot pass –– the brain is demoralised, forcing you to give up on passing well. When mentoring students, first tell them to think positively and then ask them how they think they can pass well.
Students know what to do to pass, but need somebody to guide them to a practical way to achieve success, and that is a mentor.
Dr Ben Carson in his book think big agrees that mentoring high school students with his experience has helped many improve their performance. Mentoring does not introduce any thing new, it just empowers one being mentored.
So parents and teachers should think of experienced individuals like university students or graduates to mentor high school students.
For students being mentored and those willing to form mentoring groups, I wish you the best.
The writer is a medical student at Makerere University and a mentor at St Mary’s Secondary School Kitende. Tel: 071-2-360790/077-2-992750
MENTORING can be defined as the art of helping somebody attain success or achieve goals through the help of an experienced person in that field.
Many students believe that it is reading notes and textbooks from cover to cover that helps one pass exams, but it is much more than that.
At Kibuli Secondary School, when I thought I had read all the required textbooks, and still would not pass as I wanted, I consulted a teacher, who told me that it is an old system to only read notes.
He advised me to discuss with friends as well. I heeded to the advice and the results were good.
I now consider him as a mentor. In the power of focus, by Les Hewitt et al, the authors say that to be successful in any business, you must get mentors –– people who have done similar things and succeeded.
The book says such people know all problems you may encounter running the business and how to get through. So for students, getting advice from teachers helps, since they were one time students.
In my interactions with successful students, I have learnt that in order to pass exams, one must first believe they are capable of passing and then think of how to do it,.
This is best done with the guidance of a mentor. Teachers should help students think positively. When you think negatively –– that you cannot pass –– the brain is demoralised, forcing you to give up on passing well. When mentoring students, first tell them to think positively and then ask them how they think they can pass well.
Students know what to do to pass, but need somebody to guide them to a practical way to achieve success, and that is a mentor.
Dr Ben Carson in his book think big agrees that mentoring high school students with his experience has helped many improve their performance. Mentoring does not introduce any thing new, it just empowers one being mentored.
So parents and teachers should think of experienced individuals like university students or graduates to mentor high school students.
For students being mentored and those willing to form mentoring groups, I wish you the best.
The writer is a medical student at Makerere University and a mentor at St Mary’s Secondary School Kitende. Tel: 071-2-360790/077-2-992750