Mentoring in a Time of Uncertainty
Anthony Rodriguez, PhD, FAAIDD
Professor, Providence College
Staying grounded in a time of uncertainty must be a daily practice. It is important to seek out others who can share experiences, provide guidance, and help pull the weight—to find or reconnect with our mentors. Building a community of mentors can
help us ward off burnout and increase engagement. These webs build our capacity, anchor us, and optimize our strengths that enable us to help ourselves and others.
In my professional work in school, community, and academic settings, I see almost omnipresent fear, pain, and loss. I choose to face the moment, sit with the person and the problem, and commit to helping them find the best solution for them in the time
we have. I could not do this work without the grounding of a community of mentors.
It’s important to remember that we all need support when our structural integrity, time, and patience are under great pressure and torsion. We can all build a community of mentors to help us and others remain grounded as we develop our collective
strengths. We may not know what the future will bring, but we know we face it better together.