Daily Prompt: Mentor
Have you ever had a mentor? What was the greatest lesson you learned from him or her?
I was a great speller when I was in the 6th Grade, always winning classroom spelling bees, and I especially loved my teacher, Mrs. Frankye Lane.
The school-wide spelling bee was coming up and Mrs. Lane thought I could win and go on to the statewide contest. With my parents’ consent she began to coach me after school.
As we worked together Mrs. Lane discovered a more important issue than winning a spelling competition. She saw a frightened little girl who was terrified to get on the stage. And helping me to overcome my fear became her real mission.
“Don’t be afraid she said over and over again. Just stand up tall and believe in yourself.” And her message was hypnotic.
It was the day of the Big Spelling Bee.
The contestants were on stage with the entire student body seated in the auditorium, watching and waiting.
I was beginning to shake but remembered Mrs. Lane’s words. I stood tall and whispered to myself, “You can do this. You can do this. You can do this.”
I didn’t win.
I was runner-up.
I missed on the word, “photograph!”
But I did win something else – the strength to overcome fear and go to that microphone time after time to spell the words, albeit in a slightly quavering voice.
I kept in touch with Mrs. Lane for years after that. We were still corresponding until almost the day she died, when I had a son of my own. And if I misspelled a word in our correspondence, she would correct me even then. And when I shared my accomplishments, she rejoiced with me.
I continue to think of Mrs. Lane all these many years later as my first true mentor.
Public speaking is not my thing though, and I am glad I will never have to enter another spelling bee!
Spelling bees and other competitions give young kids a chance to get over their fears early rather than later. You were lucky to have a great teacher. I don’t remember any that particularly inspired me. I do have some former bosses that did that though.
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Sounds like Mrs. Lane was a special person. Teaching is not always an easy profession (I was a teacher for years) – you have to give so much of yourself to the kids, and each kid needs something different from you. It’s good that Mrs. Lane knew what you needed and delivered. ❤
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Stacy, thanks so much for visiting my blog. Glad you enjoyed this post about teaching. There are teachers in my family – three of them, and maybe more to come. 🙂
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Aw….good teachers make ALL the difference. I always loved spelling bees, because spelling has always been one thing that I do fairly well – much better than math!
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Yes, that teacher was very special. But I too had a mentor in the working world. And even now, another has emerged (my son) to encourage me into joining the world of computers. More than one? Is it a conspiracy to give us all courage?
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Very cool. I’m sure you blessed her too with your desire to be mentored!
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I have a consortium of mentors. Different friends throughout the years have taught me so much about people and life.
As for public speaking, I started a company about 22 years ago and went to corporations to coach executives on giving presentations. My biggest surprise was that there are actually techniques to use: you’re not born with the power to make speeches.
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I loved this story. Thank you for telling it. What a wise mentor your Mrs. Lane. Every lesson with vision is a lifelong lesson.
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I loved the story of your mentor. Actually, my fifth grade teacher was named Miss Mentor! But she was a total disaster. However, I too had a fantastic sixth grade teacher and I recently wrote a tribute to her. I will attach it here.
(Pardon the prolixity! It’s pretty clear that I don’t operate in blog mode.)
Did you know Peggy Throop at Jackson? That is the Peggy I refer to in the tribute and I need to send this to her to get her input as well. We have had Lennox conversations at class reunions and both agree that she was phenomenal.
All the best, Ted
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You are excused the prolixity (I had to look that one up Ted), but where is the attachment? Did you really write a tribute to your sixth grade teacher? Please send it in an email. Yes, I knew Peggy Throop well, but have not heard from her in many years.
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Thanks Georgette… and yes, Mrs. Lane was a truly special lady.
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Oh, I wish I had known you when you were coaching execs on speech making. I needed that skill where I worked and you would have been a mentor! As it was, I had to have a podium and I knew not to hold a paper because it would rattle in shaking hands. Later I volunteered to be a docent at the historic Stonewall Jackson House, and had to give 30 minute talking tours. I think because the tour was basically memorized, I was able to conquer most of the fear. 🙂
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A lovely thought Lilly. 🙂
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Something else we have in common Dianna! 🙂
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What a wonderful example of a mentor, Doran.
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