Learning. Living. Growing.

These are the core ideas that show themselves when one thinks about college. You get an education. You live in the hyper-social atmosphere. You grow from an adolescent into an adult.

But that isn’t all.

Yes, by their simplest definition, this is true. But, if you dig a little deeper, there is so much more than that. In this way this concept applies to all aspects of life, not just college or school. Why is it so important to separate the difference? Because not everyone undergoes all three to their fullest potential. The lock that opens these doors can be opened with a single, simple key.

A guide. A mentor.

Why is a mentor important? How does this help someone learn? In school, we all can learn the materials of any class with an adequate amount of effort. No, a mentor doesn’t help you learn your degree. They help you learn to live, and by so doing, you grow more than you ever would have alone. A mentor can be someone you aspire to be like, or someone that resonates to you as an older sibling. These people dare you to reach outside your comfort zones and enable you to grow and reach out towards your potential.

They show you how to live. How to balance the chaos of life and a road map on how to organize it. A guide that leads you to the answers, but never reveals them. You are shown how to work within yourself, and to embrace your own identity. Many of us have someone like this that immediately comes to mind, because that person has played a very large, underappreciated role in our lives. For them, we are thankful. There are times in our lives where these people look out for us more than any other. Your future is every bit as important to them as their own. You will undoubtedly be close to your pseudo-sibling, because they are there every step of the way in your ventures. Yet, as you progress through your journey of growth, there will come a time when you must lead your own path.

However, that path does not need to be alone. Pioneer the path for someone to follow and learn from you. Pay your growth forward by nurturing another’s. Help build the bridge to their future. You only need to remember that you are their leader. When they find darkness, show them light. When they find hopelessness, show them direction. When they find apathy, show them a reason. When they find victory, show them why.