Fall of 2020, I took an Honors 401 class entitled “Mentorship Philosophy”. The intent of this class was to read a wide variety of articles and studies supplemented by interviews and discussions to formulate our own mentorship philosophy at the end of the class. These materials were all very interesting and beneficial to me in helping me discover my own definition of mentorship. I see mentorship as a complex reciprocal relationship based on mutual respect where all parties involved strive to learn and where the mentor can serve as a guide. My mentorship philosophy is grounded in the belief that effective mentorships are built on respect, a reciprocal development of new skills, should progress naturally guided by the mentee’s comfort and needs, and are by their very nature fluid and adaptable. My definition of mentorship is strongly guided by the mentee, and I think it is critical to also be able to recognize that you won’t be the right mentor for each person. Everyone has their own strengths in leadership that work very well for some and not for others. My strongest leadership skill is communication, as I find ease in telling stories and maintaining command- likely resultant of my extensive theatre background. This is especially effective for mentees who need a lot of contact with their mentor to help them on their journey. This is also one of the best ways for me to learn and grow in a mentorship, so I am preferential to it. Some of my other leadership skills are problem solving, optimism, a passion for meeting new people, and a love of growth and education. I’ve come to these realizations about myself through many leadership inventories, life experiences, and self-reflections, and I think that I’m equipped with many tools and experiences which