Mentor Appreciation: Learning from someone who inspires you
Sometimes people find their inspiration in places and situations where they least expect it. I found mine at Lone Star Community College in Misty Sabol, my part-time job’s supervisor, International Studies Club advisor, and personal mentor at the time. A thirst for knowledge simply cannot be quenched without the right mentors and without her guidance, I would not be as successful and prepared as I am at this moment, attending the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a scholarship.
A leap of faith
As I began my higher-educational career at Lone Star Community College, I got involved in campus leadership and applied for part-time jobs on campus. The president of the International Studies Club informed me of an open officer position within the organization and offered it to me, which I enthusiastically accepted. I soon became acquainted with other officers as well as the advisor, Mrs. Sabol. Little did I know this was the same Misty Sabol who I had been communicating with for a work-study position in the Innovation Room. Possessing no work experience except for a desire to learn, Mrs. Sabol took a leap of faith in hiring me and her belief is something I will be grateful for forever.
Throughout the next two years I got to know her better and her boundless passion for utilizing business and innovation for the benefit of others became an inspiration to me. From having worked as a woman in corporate America for several years to having children while creating her own business; from becoming a professor and taking the role of Program Manager of the Innovation Room to being an advisor for the International Studies Club and everything in between – I admire her tenacity and ambition in pursuing her goals. As a mentor and friend, she encouraged me to seek out camaraderie, solidarity, and share my passion for business through a vast array of opportunities and experiences including studying abroad in Germany and Poland during the summer of 2017. I aspire towards becoming the kind of professional and woman she is today.
Pay it forward
I am a product of amazing mentoring and I thus want to help other students be successful and pursue the opportunities and resources that are available to them, just like Mrs. Sabol helped me. I began paying it forward by being a mentor at my community college within the honors college and I continue to do so as a mentor for the Undergraduate Business Program to freshmen seeking to apply to the Business School. Success manifests in many ways and I believe everybody has something to teach someone, no matter their differences.
If you had a mentor who was of tremendous help to you, I encourage you to reach out and stay in contact with them as well as pay it forward by being a mentor to someone currently facing the same challenges you faced not too long ago.
If you do not have a mentor, I encourage you to find one. Choosing a mentor does not need to be stressful or complicated. Find one who fits your ambitions and work to make it a rewarding experience. You will not only find the best version of yourself, but will also have gained a life-long friend and supporter.
To Mrs. Sabol during National Mentoring Month
When I came to you, I was inexperienced and seeking guidance. Now I am able to stand on my own and even guide others. I am so grateful you took me under your wing because you helped me become who I am today. Thank you for being a wonderful mentor.
About the author
Michelle Gomez
Michelle Gomez is originally from Houston, Texas and lived in Honduras for 10 years. She is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Business Administration with an emphasis in Multinational Finance and a minor in Spanish for the Business Professions. Her greatest ambition is to begin her own international trading company between the US and Honduras, to contribute towards revolutionizing the current state of international trade and connecting the two worlds that embody her life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as traveling. She is the Pearson Campus Ambassador on her campus. Read other blogs by Michelle here and here.
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