Mentoring

Get Inspired and Inspire Others

Mentoring can help you find the keys to career satisfaction.

By Judith Whitehead, Buffalo, NY

One of my first medical assisting positions put me in the service of a most uninspiring and, frankly, miserable boss. After enduring that position for a year, I decided to seek a better fit. A few years and one family-owned shoe store venture later, I revived my search for a position in ophthalmology. This time, however, I was very particular. I needed to find someone who would appreciate my skills and increase my knowledge in the field.

I found that person in who would become my mentor for the next several years. This individual shared his knowledge and helped me grow into the technician I am today. Mentors come in many forms, such as, teachers, leaders, and employers. A good mentor will share vital knowledge, boost your ego and impart the drive to make you be the best you can. Thanks to the confidence my mentor helped me build, I was able to pursue certification and go back to college.

Thanks to my mentor, I discovered skills I never knew I had. Now that I’m in my 50’s, I’m trying to “pay it forward.” Many people spend too many years in dead-end jobs. I was lucky, my mentor showed me gave me the inspiration to pursue my goals and continued to inspire me for years. My message is simple: don’t stay in a job that doesn’t inspire you to grow. Look for something that gives you a sense of self worth and accomplishment each day. Or, maybe you’re ready to act as a mentor to someone else. Let the career path you choose make you happy every day and if you are not happy, don’t put off looking for something else. Make sure you can say to yourself when you approach retirement, “I spent my life enjoying my work and made the right choices.” OP

Ms. Whitehead has been a medical professional in Buffalo, NY, for 30 years. She has a B.A. in Gerontology and gives lectures on ophthalmic topics. She is currently a COT with Buffalo Medical Group.