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Her name was Ashley. She wore stilettos to the office every day and went to aerial yoga classes at 4 a.m. She was pretty and well spoken. During the time I knew her, two separate men confessed their undying love to her after showing up at her house in the middle of the night. Ashley was my internship supervisor at the non-profit organization I worked with, and she was one of the coolest people I had ever met.
I’m not quite sure if I can consider Ashley a friend. While I was falling head over heels in professional love for her, she probably left the office every day and completely wiped me from her mind until 9 a.m. the next morning. She was only 26, but seemed so put together and successful it didn’t seem like it was possible there were only six years in between us. I felt like a child next to her. We had a few moments at work events or fundraisers where a shared laugh or observation would bring us close together, and she would often ask questions about my personal life and share anecdotes from hers.
The true reason Ashley is such a fond memory in my mind wasn’t because of how much I wanted to join up with her social circle, but because of what a fantastic mentor and role model she was.
At the volatile age of 20, I was extremely impressionable, almost to a fault. I was desperate to get my feet wet in the corporate world, and would take any and all opportunities and advice. When I landed the internship gig, it seemed like a dream come true. Finally, I would have the chance to get real world experience and grow my resume. It was going to be simple.
While I would never argue college courses aren’t helpful, there were a lot of moments where I was acutely aware of how unprepared I was for certain aspects of real work. This is where Ashley came in to help in a huge way. She listened to my multitude of questions, explained processes, and shared insight from her own time as a newbie in the industry. She never once seemed annoyed when her own work was interrupted to help me with something as I learned the ropes.
A few months in, when I had enough experience under my belt to not be entirely lost, Ashley switched gears from not just supervisor, but also encourager. Daunting design projects I thought I couldn’t handle, she would challenge me to take on. During event planning processes, she would ask for my input and opinions, and even go as far as to implement them. I certainly made some mistakes or put out some low-quality work, but Ashley never reprimanded. Instead, she would walk through the process with me so we could find the error and I would learn how to do it right the next time.
About eight months into my internship, Ashley announced to the office that she was leaving to work for a large creative department that had offered her a chance at her dream job. That was the closest I’ve ever come to crying at work. In the age of social media, I’m sure it would have been incredibly easy to get in touch with Ashley after she left, but I never did. I wrote her a thank you note for her going away party in the break room, but that was the final interaction. A few months back, I was able to locate her on LinkedIn. I didn’t connect, but I did snoop around her profile to see what she was up to these days.
As I’ve started making strides in my own professional career, I often find myself thinking back on how amazing Ashley was, and how my time with her helped shape where I’m at now. I’ve talked to others who have shared someone having a similar impact in their life. Whether it be a college professor, a co-worker at a first job, or an amazing boss, these people helped them get their footing when they were young and naïve.
It’s insane to me that a single person can really make or break the professional world. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but in a way Ashley changed my life. I ended up with a new-found confidence after working with her and had something to aspire towards. Had Ashley been unapproachable and condescending, who knows what would have happened. I’m certain if that had been the case, I wouldn’t have as many accomplishments as I do today.
Now that I’ve been in the workforce for a few years, I hope I can play that role for someone else. I’ve been begging for an intern for months now. Mostly, I just want someone to go get coffee with, but I also want to pay it forward. If looking over someone’s resume, or letting them spearhead a small project is all it takes to push them to the next level, I am more than willing to be that catalyst.
To everyone who’s ever been a mentor, thank you for the difference your making in someone’s life. Maybe you’re an Ashley and you don’t even know it. There could be young boys and girls out in the world accomplishing their goals because of your influence on them. Keep this in mind the next time the new person in the office asks you how to set up their email signature on Outlook for the tenth time. They’re learning, and you’re helping them get there..
Respond
Kell
future soccer mom of America (AKA I drive a Volvo.) Miracle is my favorite movie and it should be yours too.
@backpackfanclub
@instagram
I’ve read that for something like 90% of people their main reason for wanting to switch jobs/careers is because of their manager or supervisor. Spot on that having someone like Ashley to guide, push and develop you is so huge on a professional level. Even on a personal level, having someone like that when you’re still a young, impressionable adult can be a real eye-opening experience. Lucky you, Kell.
You for sure need to mash that connect button on LinkedIn, this is literally what LinkedIn is for! Maybe it will enrich both your careers, maybe you get nothing out of it but you’ll feel better knowing you’re connected and that you showed her the appreciation of wanting to network.
Anytime I get annoyed with an intern, I try to remember the people like Ashley who graciously helped and mentored me when I was an intern or student. I’ll forever owe a few of my mentors.
I hope Ashley reads this, and you can develop the connection again. I’ve been lucky enough to keep in touch with a few mentors after I’ve left their company, and they’ve been crucial in my career development.
My mentor didnt get the promotion and left, essentially flipping double birds out the door. PGP.
It’s not the best but I let our interns know what it is actually like to work here. There’s the shiny picture painted, but when you get down to it, it sucks. A company that’s stuck in the 80’s is not a place you want to work.
Switch jobs and then invite the interns you like to come work with you. PGPM
I just found out that my coworker and I both might be getting our own interns and I’m so excited, I feel like I’m getting a pet. Can’t wait to teach them all the shit I wish I learned as an intern and then brag about how much better my intern is than the other. Also, obviously hype to ask for a raise because now I’ll be managing/supervising someone.
My current boss is probably the smartest person I’ve met in my field, however sometimes he sucks at explaining things. He never once belittled me for turning in shitty work though. So with the new guy here I try to incorporate that same philosophy, but actually explain the things he needs to improve on. It has completely made me a better employee over the last few months.
I was told to go find a mentor and role-model in my field after graduating, best advice I got.
This article made me text my internship boss and thank him for his role in my professional development. Jimbo was a hell of a mentor.