However, asking for help, facing the fear of digging in the real questions and doing that with another individual, face-to-face, may seem very intimidating. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of time; you need to decide on the spot and cannot afford seeking for answers in other people; sometimes you just feel internalizing; sometimes you don’t even know how to formulate your thoughts. So why adding all that extra stress and pressure meeting with a mentor, a person you barely know?

Sometimes I wish I could just ask my Siri for life and work advice.

 I bet many would feel more comfortable asking questions in anonymity, exclude the human interaction and the awkward small talk. Imagine a world where you just ask your smart device for life advice, and you get an instant answer. I bet this seems an ideal scenario for many people in the era of technology and social isolation.

However, I believe everyone, even the most introvert individuals, would agree that we have been deprived of the social interaction the past couple of years, leaving us longing for interpersonal relations. Yes, Siri is an easy solution, anonymity feels safe, but is this enough when making big, maybe life-changing decisions?

Great things never come from your comfort zone, but you don’t have to do anything alone.

Imagine now another scenario; You have questions and you know there is a space and network that can provide the answers. All you must do is just reach out. Just like that, you start a beautiful conversation that now extends way further than your initial questions, or it doesn’t. You just get what you need, or more. It’s entirely up to you. In the end, you have your answers and maybe a new contact, a small network that could extend to a global one. You just started a ripple effect with JUST ONE QUESTION. How does that feel?

Does this sound too good to be true? It does not. This is how mentoring works. That simple, yet so significant. All it takes is asking one simple question. That is all the effort needed to make a change. Even when you think you do not know how to ask your big questions, all you need is to start with just one simple, tiny, insignificant one. The rest will come as long as you are PRESENT. Besides, that’s life, right? You start small to get to bigger, more exciting, more fulfilling things.

And what is better than getting to explore the possibilities with people that have already been through the same journey, the same doubts, the same difficulties as you? To hear one’s perspective, one’s experiences and life lessons could be pivotal in shaping your path. That is mentoring. Why miss the opportunity?

So no Siri, you cannot be my mentor. You can tell me though where the best local ice cream parlor is. That will make my decisions weigh lighter on me for sure.  

Greek Women in STEM will take care of my mentoring.