Context:
The next few months are critical to your mentee's ongoing success and having a strong finish to their second year of college and in some cases the last year of their program.Now is the time to plan for the immediate future and the upcoming summer months. To start the conversation, send your mentee a quick text asking them about one personal goal and one academic goal that they would like to complete in the next three months. Be sure to include your own personal and professional goals in the text. This is a great way to jumpstart the conversation before getting into specifics. It also gives your mentee a glimpse into what is important to you at your place of work and in your personal life.
If your mentee is at a two year instituton, they will be completing their Associate's degree in a few short months. Now is the time to revisit your mentee's highest career aspiration and help them think through the stepping stones that they need to get there. Based upon your mentee's long-term goal what are their next steps. Does your mentee plan on transferring to a 4 year school, pursue a certificate ore credentialling program, or enter the workforce? What steps does your mentee need to successfully complete their two year college experience?
If your mentee is at a four year institution, they will soon be halfway through their program. Many institutions will ask that mentees declare a major by the send of sophomore year. Your mentee may may undecided or want to change majors from what they originally attended. Help normalize this experience for your mentee. Help your mentee think what steps they take to stay on track academically and the tasks that they can complete to get set-up for next year. Also, help your mentee think through summer opportunities that will complement their academic experiences.
Regardless of pathway, the S.M.A.R. T. goal structure is a great one to suggest to your mentee. Your mentee was first introduced to this concept in high school and it is used in many different professions. The best part is that the structure lends itself to task completion which helps your mentee build a sense of accomplishment as they work toward a larger goal.
Prompts for Communication:
While S.M.A.R.T goals provide excellent goal-setting structure, avoid beginning the conversation with them. Otherwise, the interaction may seem a bit transactional. Start with a personal check-in instead. Here are some questions that you might ask your mentee, and give personal examples from your life as well. Another option is asking your mentee to take the lead on the conversation and ask you questions about how things are going in your life
- How is everything going? How is your family?
- What things at home or in your school or family have changed since we last spoke? What areas do you need support with? How can I help?
- What is something that you are doing outside of work and home that you are enjoying?
Here are some questions related to academics that you might ask: - How are your courses going? What areas are you doing well in? In what areas do you need support?
- How are you connecting with other people in your classes?
- Does your college still feel like a good fit?
- What are some things that you are learning? How are you growing from this experience?
For mentees completing their two year program: - Do you still plan on transferring? How can I support you with that process?
- Are thinking of going straight into the workforce? Let's think through those next steps together.
Here are some ways to begin the conversation around S.M.A.R.T goals: - Model a S.M.A.R.T. goal for your mentee based upon something you want to accomplish professionally or personally over the next 3 months.
- Help your mentee set their S.M.A.R.T. goals by providing them with additional context. Making goals for your professional and personal life is important to ensure that you are doing things you want and progressing in life. Are there any goals you want to set for yourself related to:
- Health & Wellness
- Financial Security
- Leisure or Fun
- Artistic & Creative Endeavors
- Public Service/ Giving Back
- Attitude/ Mindset
Resources:
- SMART GOALS sheet: https://imentor.box.com/s/t072vibraw319w53q9uyo4n1m1inei31
