As a college student, a lot can go right and just as much (if not more) can go wrong. Good grades, friendships, internships and jobs are all things we seek during these four important years of our lives. It is difficult to stay on top of all of these goals and keep a clear head. Whether you plan on working for someone else or starting your own company, there in one commonality: you can’t and won’t make it on your own.

Realizing this, at the start of my sophomore year, I began looking for mentors. I recognized that the more perspectives I had, the more knowledge I would have to make big decisions in my life. This is also why it is a good idea to have multiple mentors from different fields and who come from different backgrounds. Mentors can be family members, but I would advise having a mix of family mentors and outside of family mentors. This helps you get better perspective and it forces you to go outside of your comfort zone.

Family friends can be very useful as mentors. Most likely they know someone well from your family and may be willing to give you some time; all you have to do is ask. Just text, call or email them. You can grab coffee together or just go visit them. These are informal meetings where you talk about your life at the moment and your short and long-term goals. Ask them questions, get some answers and have some simple conversation. It may sound kind of unnecessary, but in my experience, it has really helped me.

When we have an issue or problem in school or in life, we almost always know what our parents will say to us. That’s why mentors are great; you don’t always know what they are going to say. They come from different backgrounds and grew up in different families. They might handle situations differently than members of your family would. They give you additional options to think through, which can help you make the right decision.

Mentors aren’t just helpful; they are a necessity. As college students, we are balancing a lot. We are trying to get good grades, make new friends, find jobs/internships, and keep in touch with family. Mentors won’t do these things for you, but they might give you some insight on how you can balance your time better and more effectively.

Reach out of your comfort zone and talk to someone with more experience and more intelligence than you possess. They might just change your life.