Oprah Winfrey while talking about Maya Angelou, her mentor said "My mentor was with me always, guiding me through the most difficult years of my life. Mentors are important and I don't think anyone makes it through the world without some form of mentorship." Even if we deny it or even if we think we might tackle and beat every difficulty on our own, every student needs a teacher, who listens, nurtures, ponders and supports students to be the best version of themselves.

Many students, while planning to study abroad, require mentorship with a hope to fulfil their aspirations of a successful career and even more to create a clear path towards their goals and gain flexibility while maintaining focus. Here are certain ways you could make the most of your mentor-mentee relationship:

1. We have our own character traits but being open to expanding your perception will help. Patience, receptiveness and purposefulness are some of the traits that are important for a successful mentor-student relationship. Mentoring is not a one-day process, it starts from understanding yourself, to selecting your program, University or country, and thereafter the entire application process, visa, and financing the education. Mentors will hold your hand, but your patience and equal support are required. At the same time being receptive to feedback is necessary, whether positive or constructive. Be purposeful by taking notes and implementing the feedback.
2. Even if we are in a virtual world with Facebook and Twitter, try to be fully connected to this 1-1 relationship with your mentor. If you can't have regular sessions, stay in touch through emails with your mentor on a monthly if not weekly basis. Update them on your progress, and highlight areas you need more help on.
3. You might have heard this many times, but preparation is key.To make the most of a mentoring session, bring your curiosity along, be prepared with questions. Review the last discussion, prepare your goals and agendas for that specific meeting, be honest and accept failures and ask for advice on improvements. Prepare questions that will help you make the most of the session.
4. Even if you have half-baked ideas, even if you are unsure or shy or very confident, bring your ideas to your mentors. It is important that you research and think carefully about your options. You might have your own idea of a certain course or country, make sure you communicate your preferences clearly. This will provide you the correct path, vision and information required for you to succeed. If you want to change the field and opt for a different offbeat course, or if you have discovered any new course that might need confirmation, ask your mentor. Discuss your ideas and research thoroughly.
5. Map your path, articulate your short-term and long-term goals even if you are not sure of them, bring your bucket list along. Mentors help the student to achieve professional and personal milestones. Sometimes, students have a blurry vision on goal setting and achieving them. Define your short-term and long term goals, discuss them with your mentor and then move forward with working on them. Prioritize what is most important to you in the short term and then revisit your long term goals. Keep a diary and reflect on your progress on a weekly basis.
6. Give and take is necessary, share your feedback, be it negative or constructive. As taking constant feedback is necessary, giving feedback when required is also important. If you have certain ways that can make your meetings more effective and efficient, share those ideas with your mentor. While giving feedback, be descriptive, specific and clear.
7. Every relationship needs nurturing to last long, so nurture your relationship and make a forever bond with your mentor. This association of students and mentors starts from their initial meeting or demo session and ends with students achieving what they want. Simply by checking on your mentor, adding thank you and sorry can make a huge difference. Kindness rules the world, be kind to your mentor and try to develop a lifelong bond.
8. Gaining the right information never goes in vain, so be Informed and updated. With the world changing at such a fast pace, the information you gather helps you to analyze and stay ahead of the competition. Mentors now are merging mentorship skills with technology and digitalizing the college application experience with new techniques like AI and ML. So, stay informed on the latest technology and tools to help you to be efficient and make the most of organizing yourself before and after sessions.  

Mentors are like an open book, you read them and you take all the wisdom with you. There’s no filter in this relationship and hence it is the purest. Your mentor will make you strong and ready for today’s fast-paced world, so are you ready to get yourself a great mentor and make the most of it?