At some point in life, everyone experiences a “first time.”
The first time baking a cake
The first time studying a course
The first time writing an exam
The first time writing and publishing a research article
The list goes on.
One thing that all first-time experiences have in common is that they come with challenges strong enough to dissuade us from our goals. For early-career scientists venturing into different career pathways, it’s no different. The demands of science and the resolve to change the world can easily crumble under the pressures of a new career environment. Many end up rethinking their choices, and some may even abandon their dreams.
Just as a recipe book can be a lifesaver for a first-time baker, mentorship serves as a lifeline for early-career researchers. According to Yetunde Oshinkale, mentorship is “a relationship between two people where the individual with more experience, knowledge, and connections is able to pass along what they have learned to a more junior individual within a certain field.” This definition perfectly captures the essence and power of mentorship.
Here are some profound benefits mentorship offers:
Mentorship Empowers:
Through mentorship, timely and valuable knowledge essential for success in a career is passed down. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power,” so it’s safe to say that a mentored individual is an empowered individual.
Mentorship Guides:
In unfamiliar territory, it’s almost impossible to avoid pitfalls, particularly since one doesn’t know they exist in the first place. However, mentored individuals gain access to the challenges and obstacles their mentors faced and overcame. This guidance helps them avoid common mistakes and ensures a smoother career journey.
Mentorship Grants Speed:
By learning from their mentors’ experiences, mentees gain valuable insights into what to do and what to avoid as they embark on their careers. While personal experience can be a good teacher, learning from others’ experiences is an even better one.
#SmartScifrica, has actively provided these benefits to early-career scientists for years. The real-world impact that members of this community have gone on to achieve is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship—especially for first-timers like early-career scientists!
Written By:
Deborah Adebanjo