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!
Virginia Views 