There is a peculiar moment in time that occurs for a mentor – it is a time where the mentor must come to terms with the idea that they may never see the fruits of their labour. The mentee is now in full bloom. Their sense of self is vibrant, resilient and strong. They are mighty members of society that are able to navigate the world while remaining unique and true to themselves. They can thrive in a forest of others yet possess the capacity to stand alone and unwavering.
There is a lot of literature that discusses what a mentor is or how mentorship looks, but there is not much that explores this concept of never knowing if the investment paid off. It is bitter-sweet that all of the years of guidance and investment are not able to be witnessed. However, these “payoffs” are irrelevant when it comes to the mentorship cycle. There is comfort in knowing that the legacy of mentoring and the passing of knowledge is what will live on.
In a beautiful ending, it is now up to the mentee to decide what they will do with the wisdom and tradition that was parted on them, but one thing is for certain, the legacy of mentorship will live on.
