The Incredible Power of Mentoring
By Shane Robitaille
When I walked into the high school art room for the first time on that crisp, September day, I knew it was THE place for me. But it wasn’t because of the abundance of art supplies; it was because of Ms. Derby, the teacher. I didn’t know it at the time, and she might not ever have known it, but she became a mentor to me as one of a few adults I trusted and could count on as a teenager.
I had become homeless only a year and a half before, and was legally emancipated, as I started sophomore year for the second time, at my fourth high school. And, although I was a bit rough around the edges, I had hope and strived for better tomorrows.
From the first day, I connected with Ms. Derby differently than most teachers. Somehow she saw through my Rebel Without a Cause smokescreen, tolerated my sometimes attitude, had the patience of a saint, treated me with respect, and expected to be treated with respect. And, although she probably knew my circumstances were different than most students, she didn’t make a big deal about it.
Working full-time, high school wasn’t a priority, but the art room became a sanctuary for me. It became a safe and inviting place for me to escape to. I would drop in to read, catch up on homework, or oftentimes work out excess angst and stress by sketching, painting, or developing black and white photos. And sometimes I would just stop in to say hello.
Although Ms. Derby and I would constantly be at odds about my art (everything I did looked like graffiti or a cartoon), she never tired of inspiring me to grow, evolve my self-expression, and learn. Even when I had no patience with the adult world around me, she always made the time to listen, never judged, and gave me the space to become comfortable with letting my guard down.
I ended up staying at that high school for three years, graduating somewhere in the bottom third of the class, but also receiving a “Most Improved Student” award, along with a few scholarships.
Although I haven’t seen or talked to Ms. Derby in decades, I am forever grateful for the time and energy she gave that scrappy, punk teenager when he needed it most. Her patience, grace, and love for the natural world made a profound and lasting imprint on me as a kid and adult.
Mentoring can make a big difference no matter how old we are. And, as I learned so long ago, sometimes our best mentors don’t even realize they are mentoring us.
