Former speechwriter for President Clinton Eric Liu offered some advice yesterday for students looking to find mentors.
The Slate writer spoke about his new book and the power of mentoring to more than 20 Penn Bookstore patrons.
Liu's book, Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life, is the result of over two years of research with teachers, coaches, mentors and guides. The list ranges from Halle Berry's acting coach to a marine training specialist.
Liu encouraged college students in the audience to boldly seek out mentors, as well as to become mentors themselves.
The introduction to Liu's book highlights the importance of mentors: "We are all teachers. ... Teaching is to behavior what sex is to genes."
Liu warned young people not to thwart their mentoring impulse by thinking, "What do I know? What wisdom do I have to offer?"
"That's the wrong set of questions. The only requirement is that you be present and authentic. ... You have who you are," Liu said.
"By asking people two questions -- who influenced you, and how are you passing [their influence] on -- you get very quickly to the heart of who they are," Liu said.
This theme ran through Liu's speech, as he told stories of a small-business teacher in southeast Washington State, a debate coach in New Mexico, a Procter & Gamble marketing executives and a "homeboy" priest working with Los Angeles youths.
According to Liu, finding a mentor "begins with finding the simple courage to ask."
Audience members added that many people, even the most experienced and credentialed, would take such a request as a compliment. Liu explained that few people are fortunate enough to find "the one" mentor for life.
Instead, people at the start of their careers and relationships may have to create a composite mentor by being mindful of many surrounding examples.
Ancient History Ph.D. candidate Melody Mark was just passing by the speech when she was drawn to the discussion by a desire to give something back to her community.
She asked Liu how to handle what she called "the awesome responsibility" of teaching and mentoring, particularly with other Asian students who may be interested in pursuing liberal arts as she has.
"You can give people a sense of who they might be," Liu said, but "it's on them to figure it out for themselves."
United Way's Campaign for Mentors Director Jon Amsterdam, who organized and attended the lecture, strongly encouraged Penn students to become involved in mentoring.
