Mentorship is a great way for students to learn and develop both professionally and personally. The guidance a mentor provides to students prepares them for life after graduation and boosts their confidence in facing life challenges. For this reason, it is important to integrate mentoring into the fashion education system.
Here is a breakdown of some reasons why mentoring should be integrated into the fashion education system:
Assist with your career goals
Sometimes you have a rough idea of what you want to become and what you want to do. Creating a plan and steps to achieve your goals can be difficult if you have never been exposed to a new industry or role before. Mentoring provides people with the opportunity to create an actionable plan to attain the goals. Mentors also provide accountability to help you accomplish your goals.
Avoid silly mistakes
Mentors often share their past experiences. The experiences can provide mentees insights into what to avoid, how to conduct yourself in the industry, and how to deal with mistakes and failure. As a mentee, it's essential to listen to avoid duplicating the same mistakes.
Expands their network
It's common knowledge that the fashion industry is known for the quote, "it's not what you know but who you know". Therefore strengthening your network is fundamental. Mentors are notoriously known for making introductions with people they believe can support you within your career development journey.
Access to resources
Resources are essential for development. Mentors typically introduce books, memberships, documentaries, courses, events or training programmes related to their mentee's interests. Mentors often provide recommendations on resources they've personally experienced. Recommended resources can help you avoid pitfalls and ensure the resources are credible, which can save you money and time in the long run.