Mentoring on the Move

You can tell a lot about a person when you travel with them. I’ll admit that I am not the easiest travel companion. I get anxious about being on time, so I arrive chronically early. I’m a vegetarian who is also lactose intolerant, which makes finding food challenging. And I’m the type who goes to bed early, wakes up early, and isn’t much for nightlife.

This fall, I traveled to a national conference with Grace, an undergraduate elementary education major. She had approached me about collaborating on an advocacy project, and I was eager to mentor her in the research process using data I’d collected from a graduate class. Grace showed initiative by securing a small university grant to fund five hours of weekly research and cover part of her travel. Our dean generously picked up the rest, ensuring she could attend and present without personal cost.

For Grace, this was all new. It was her first time presenting at a conference, let alone a national one. She joined the project after data had already been collected, so our focus was on analysis. Sometimes I had to backtrack and explain steps more clearly since she had not been part of the research from the beginning. But Grace was eager, curious, and excited to uncover themes that emerged from the data.

Traveling together made it clear we were on the same wavelength. Grace valued being early, went with the flow, and didn’t mind spending time with a professor old enough to be her mother. (My son is seven years older than her!) As a pescetarian, she also understood the challenge of finding restaurants that respected dietary restrictions.

And when it came time to present, I stepped back and watched her shine. Grace spoke with confidence, shared insights, and radiated excitement about the work. I was so proud, not just of the presentation, but of the way she embraced the entire journey.

Mentorship is a lot like traveling together. You prepare, adapt, respect each other’s quirks, and share the journey. Sometimes you’re the guide, sometimes the learner, and often both. What matters most isn’t the destination, but the small moments of trust, patience, and flexibility along the way. Traveling with Grace reminded me that mentorship is less about the itinerary and more about the shared adventure. Watching her step into new territory showed me how meaningful that journey can be.

(Student name and photo shared with permission.)