4. Adopt a Mentor.

Perhaps the advice should read: Have a mentor adopt you. A mentor is usually a professional person at a top-level within an organization who counsels, advises and guides a less experienced individual. A mentor can be great if you have a fairly clear idea of what you want to do for a living, or are at least considering. By associating closely with someone already out in the field, you can learn all kinds of insights that you won't get in the classroom:

ü You can observe the person �in action� in the courtroom, meeting room, office, or wherever he or she works.

ü You can learn how she or he came to be in the position. You'll hear about the pitfalls as well as the victories. Don't be surprised when a mentor tells you he or she started out in a completely different direction.

ü You can learn of different types of positions in the mentor's field, because the person may have held most of them on his or her way up the ladder.

ü You can gain a clearer career direction for yourself, from the mentor's guidance in professional choices and outside activities.

ü From your mentor's connections with other people, he or she may be able to help you find new opportunities to serve and learn.

ü A mentor can even help you be sure you are making the right decision.

No matter where you are in your career, it is always good to have a mentor. This is especially important for those in college or at an early part of their career� a critical stage in your personal and professional development.

For example, a mentorship program in Chicago geared towards minorities has many students working side-by-side with their mentors. Te experience of bonding with another professional, getting into a different physical environment and receiving one-on-one guidance has proved pivotal for many students who would otherwise not be encouraged to pursue higher education, much less professional careers.

When seeking a mentor or mentors, you will want to look for individuals who:

Inspire genuine respect and for whom you feel a level of trust.

Just because a professional colleague works in your field and has achieved a level of success that you wish to attain, this doesn't automatically qualify the person to be your mentor. While all people deserve our respect as human beings, let's face reality. We respect some

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