Why Do We Need a Mentor? A Reflection from IFSA-IUFRO Mentorship Programme
“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” — Oprah Winfrey
Four years ago, I questioned whether I truly needed a mentor to guide my future career direction or not. Before the COVID-19 epidemic, mentorship programs were not very well known in Indonesia. However, after COVID-19, the pandemic forced a rapid shift from offline to remote work, and people sought new ways to connect, learn, and grow professionally in a virtual environment. At that time, I was still working and had not started my path towards a master’s degree.
After working for almost three years, in 2020 I decided to pursue my master’s degree. I discovered a mentorship program designed to help with the application process, hoping it would assist me in achieving my dream. I was fortunate to have a wonderful mentor who not only supported me during the application process but also provided emotional support, especially when I faced rejections in my applications. She could see something in me that I was not aware of, which became my strength. Finally, after several rejections, in 2022 I was accepted into a double degree master’s program at both the University of Copenhagen and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences—my dream countries to study in. This experience was invaluable, demonstrating the profound impact mentorship can have on one’s journey.
When I started my academic journey, I aimed to actively participate in youth organizations in my campus that focus on forestry, as a result I become a member of IFSA LC Copenhagen. In 2022, there was an open call for an IUFRO commissioner on the IFSA website, which mentioned that the commission needed some people to support IFSA’s involvement in the 26th IUFRO World Congress 2024 to be held in Stockholm, Sweden. I had been aware of the previous congress in 2019, and one of the sessions that interested me was the Mentorship Program. My previous experience of joining a mentorship program motivated me to get involved and contribute to the mentorship program, helping young people and young scientists in their career paths. After I got accepted, I volunteered myself in preparing the IFSA-IUFRO Mentorship Program 2024 for the 26th IUFRO World Congress. The IFSA-IUFRO Mentorship Program aimed to provide a platform for mentees and mentors in creating mutually beneficial relationships that foster growth and development. Furthermore, for the mentees, it will help them in providing clarity for their career trajectory.’
Together with my fellow IFSA member, Alina Lehikoinen, we arranged the details of the program from the preparation until the closing session. It was amazing to see over 400 participants register for the mentorship program. Alina and I paired the participants based on their interests and backgrounds. It was a great experience to learn about each participant’s interests and backgrounds, which made me realize how vast the topic of forestry is. We also created guidelines for the participants to provide them with information during the program. In addition, we also conducted a networking event, providing a platform for IUFRO participants and mentor-mentee pairs to connect with others who share similar interests. Thanks to the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation for their kind support, we were able to conduct the IFSA-IUFRO Mentorship Competition, which included “From Congress to Continuity” and “Mapping a Mentoring Roadmap for IUFRO.
During the mentorship closing session, we discussed ways to improve the next mentorship program. One of the mentees shared an experience that made me happy. She had already formed a good relationship with her mentor, who introduced her to a potential co-supervisor for her future thesis. This connection also opens up for her in having internships and further research opportunities. Hopefully, there will be similar positive experiences for other mentees and mentors participating in this program.
Having long term mentorship programs allow them to navigate their personal growth whether in academic or professional development. The key takeaway from the mentorship program is that these activities will expand your professional and academy circle, providing access to opportunities. So If the question arises whether having a mentor is necessary for your academic and career development, the answer is a resounding yes.
