More Than Just a Mentor
In 2017, I was selected to receive a Pearson Scholarship for Higher Education. As part of the program I would be assigned a mentor. I never imagined having a mentor in college nor did I know what to expect from having a one. Would it be a previous winner of the scholarship or someone in my future career field of dentistry? Then I was introduced to Karen Keith, a Pearson employee and my mentor. Initially, I wondered how we would form a connection, but it didn’t take long for Mrs. Karen (as I call her) and me to begin building a relationship. She has become a true ally and has advised me in both professional and personal aspects.
Professional Advice
The monthly Pearson springboard topics we’re assigned have given Mrs. Karen opportunities to provide me with a lot of valuable advice. For example, she introduced me to LinkedIn, the professional networking site. Through it I have expanded my personal network by connecting with other individuals in my major, career interest, and Phi Theta Kappa alumni. Another month, the springboard topic focused on the importance of different aspects of my lifestyle. I realized through our discussion the disregard I had for the environment, specifically in recycling single use plastics. I made being more aware of helping the environment an obligation after receiving encouragement and advice from Mrs. Karen. In my first year as a transfer student at Mississippi State University, I conducted research with a group on the banning of plastic straws and how single use plastics affect our environment. I picked this topic because of the conversation I had with Mrs. Karen. Additionally, she has helped me by offering advice related to my academics, personal finance strategies, and numerous other departments. I cannot think of any instance where I came to Mrs. Karen and she did not offer me complete support or some sort of advice that helped.
Karen Keith
Personal SupportMrs. Karen has also been a significant help to me through personal trials. During the Spring semester of my sophomore year, my mom (pictured with me in the photo at the top of this blog) was involved in a car accident that resulted in her right knee being shattered. After running tests in the emergency room, doctors also identified a mass inside of my mom’s heart. It was a benign tumor in one of her atriums. I spent a lot of time that semester traveling between home and school to help my mother with simple tasks as we prepared for her open-heart surgery. I was under a lot of stress because I was not sure how to balance both my school work and the attention my mother needed. Mrs. Karen calmed me down and assured me that I was not alone. She encouraged me to speak to my professors, school staff, and extracurricular advisors as soon as possible to fill them in on my situation. Mrs. Karen checked in with me several times and gave amazing encouragement and support during my mom’s surgery and recovery.
I never expected to have a mentor, but Mrs. Karen has been that and more because I also got a new friend through her as well. Mrs. Karen went beyond her commitment of being my mentor. That Spring semester was a difficult time, but with my mentor’s personal and professional support I was able to stay on track to transfer to a university and continue my education.
About the author
Hunter Holley
Hunter Holley is a junior majoring in biochemistry at Mississippi State University. He is a member of the Transfer Student Association, a resident assistant, and is running for the position of president in the Pre-Dental Society during the upcoming semester. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, swimming, and exercising. Hunter plans to pursue a career in dentistry and would like to serve as an orthodontist in the military.
This is Hunter’s second piece for the Pearson Students Blog. If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!
