The Power of a Good Mentor
Some classrooms teach content. Others teach you who you are.
Both of the mentors who changed my life taught in the exact same classroom.
Same room, same desk, same front-row seat.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I sat down in that spot twice, and both times, my life shifted a little.
What I learned in that room had less to do with course material and more to do with the people standing at the front of it.
Two professors pushed me, believed in me, challenged me, and changed the trajectory of my career.
This wasn’t out of luck, but because I let myself be uncomfortable, ask questions, and grow.
Dr. K was the first mentor I became completely comfortable with at Elon. She’s the person I turn to with any question because I know she’ll always be honest with me. That’s what I love most about her. Her honesty has never been intimidating, it’s always been grounding.
She taught me that professor–student relationships don’t have to be stiff or surface-level. She brought humanity, humor, and warmth into her classroom. For the first time in my life, I looked forward to going to class every single day, and I was genuinely upset if I had to miss it.
Her class was my introduction to discussion-based learning. I learned how to speak up, how to hold my own opinions, and how to be comfortable being uncomfortable in a room full of people.
She’s also the reason I changed my major to Strategic Communications. She saw potential in me that I hadn’t discovered yet, and she helped me grow into it.
She was the first person who made me think, “Maybe I am capable of more.”
Before registration one semester, I showed Dr. K my list of classes and professors. I asked her if they were good choices or if I should switch any. She pointed to Media Law and Ethics and said I should take Mr. B.
She told me he’d be tough. But she also knew I was capable and that he would love teaching me. She knew exactly what she was doing. She was preparing me for the mentor who would change my life next.
Looking back, it makes perfect sense: in the very same classroom where Dr. K taught me to speak up, Mr. B would teach me to think deeply.
On the first day of Mr. B’s class, I sat in my usual front-row seat. But this time, I panicked. I was already convinced I was in over my head. This class would surely tank my GPA. I even wondered if I could switch to a different professor who would make the class easier.
I didn’t feel this way because he made me uncomfortable, but because I knew this class was going to make me uncomfortable. I had always coasted academically. School had always been easy for me. I rarely had to study. Discomfort and challenge had always been reserved for athletics. The idea of cold-calling, intense material, and real expectation was terrifying.
After class, I called my mom and said, “This is going to be hard. Like really hard. But he’s going to be another Dr. K. I can feel it.”
And I was right.
Mr. B became one of the best mentors I’ve ever had. He didn’t just teach me Media Law — he showed me the field I want to build my life around. He helped me find my fire and made me excited to learn again.
He brings an energy to the classroom that is unmatched. He encourages tough conversations, critical thinking, and pushback. Most professors hate being challenged; he thrives on it.
He changed me academically, but also personally.
He was the person I trusted enough to cry to when I made the decision to step away from athletics. He made me feel confident enough in myself to choose a healthier, better path.
Dr. K built the foundation. Mr. B taught me how to stand on it.
Both mentors shaped my path in different ways, but the lessons are the same:
Growth happens when you’re uncomfortable.
The classes that scare you are the ones that change you.
Mentorship is something you build, not something you luck into.
You have to ask questions. You have to show up. You have to be willing to be seen.
A mentor can change your life, but only if you let them be part of your journey.
I grew the most in the room where I felt the most challenged.
And the professors who challenged me are the ones who shaped who I am.
Never underestimate the power of a good mentor.
Take the hard class.
Say yes to the professor who scares you a little.
Let yourself be uncomfortable.
Ask the questions that feel dumb.
Build the relationships that matter.
Let people be a part of your journey — you might be surprised who ends up changing your life.
And you might become a part of their journey too.