I remember when I was a little boy my father hoisting me up on his shoulders so I could watch the parade go past, the alternate view was much less desirable. His broad shoulders allowed me an advantage that many other small boys and girls did not receive because their parents were less willing to sacrifice their own comfort for the benefit of their child. Because the two of us working as a team, he offering to help me see the parade and me accepting his help without whining about not being able to run around and do what I wanted, I was able to benefit from his sacrifice of putting up with me on his shoulders. This is my earliest recollection of someone helping me not to just survive (feed, cloth, and put a roof over my head) but to get above the crowd both figuratively and literally.
Later in my life, in my pursuit of a degree in civil engineering, my Godfather was there to assist, encourage, and at times berate me into keeping my head down and stay focused on my goal of graduating with my degree in four years. Throughout my college career, he helped me with not only my studies (he was a practicing civil engineer in the aerospace industry) but also in keeping focused on my goals and not allow me to waste my time and energy on those common distractions that tempt the college student.
Throughout my professional life, again I was fortunate to have found mentors. Men who were willing to take me under their wing and had the patience to put up with, at times, a know-it-all young engineer. They had years of wisdom gained from their own life’s professional and personal experiences but more importantly, they were willing to share that knowledge with me. They felt it was their duty to help the next generation of their profession (civil engineer designer and contractor) as they were mentored in their time. Thankfully, for me, they were much kinder and gentler on my training than they received during their development years.
Many years ago, I took it upon myself to perform the same duty of mentoring to our new generation of engineers/contractors/people. Some of those I mentored have gone on to successful productive careers as well as life in general, while others have not been as successful. Both cases drive me to continue my attempt to share my life and professional experiences with every young new person I encounter for whom I believe could benefit from my input. This is not to say it is always appreciated on the part of my intended “student/victim”, and that is all right with me, as someone once said, “You can lead a house to water, but you can’t make him drink”.
I truly believe that it is my duty to both the next generation as well as the past generation, who taught me, to teach and mentor. This is so that the knowledge learned though experience can be passed on so that the proverbial wheel does not have to be re-invented every generation. In fact, I believe it is incumbent on all of professionals to find at least one person to mentor and help develop their professional acumen. We owe it to those who have provided us with their time and we certainly owe it to the public who will be the recipients of the work performed by the next generation.
As may of us have not gained our positions professionally without the help of mentors and profited from their knowledge that they so graciously shared with us so we may stand on their shoulders. We too must help the next generation with a boost so they too may raise higher for both theirs and societies benefit.