The Power of a Mentor

A lot of myths, legends, and stories center on mentor-mentee relationships.

Dante and Virgil.

Gandalf and Bilbo.

Luke Skywalker and Yoda.

Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi.

I think mentor-mentee stories are so popular and compelling because we all hope for that kind of relationship in our lives — especially when we’re young.

Joseph Campbell described the mentor as playing an essential role in the Hero’s Journey. When the hero initially resists the call to adventure, an old man appears “who provides the adventurer with amulets against the dragon forces he is about to pass.” At the right moment, a guide enters the scene to offer the hero confidence and wisdom.

I was lucky enough to have that kind of experience when I was fifteen years old and beginning my own journey into adulthood.

My friendship with Andrew Lester was an unlikely one, and while it may not have had the kind of dramatic flashiness you see on film, it was truly formative for me, offering not just lessons on growing up well, but also a lasting sense of the power of a mentor.