Mentor Telemachus Program Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association Southwest Section

Who was Mentor? Goals Mentor was the friend and surrogate father to The Southwest Section seeks to develop mentor‐ Telemachus, son of Odysseus and Penelope. ships that: 1. Are professional in nature; When Odysseus was off to the Trojan War, Men‐ 2. Help students transition to the work world in tor watched over Telemachus, introduced him to their area of interest; community leaders and guided the young man’s 3. Create opportunities for professional develop‐ search for his father and heritage. Even today a ment, networking and exchange of ideas; mentor’s protégé is sometimes referred to as 4. Expose students to mentors of differing back‐ “the telemachus”. ground and/or area of interest;

5. Reconnect alumni with their alma mater; and Mentor’s ancient guidance is not all that differ‐ 6. Are mutually satisfying and beneficial. ent from a contemporary mentorship. Both di‐ rect us toward understanding our professional Basic Commitment inheritance and our full potential within it. Men‐ Mentors commit themselves to provide one or tors provide such guidance to those who have more students with an opportunity to spend half yet to fully engage themselves in their profes‐ sions. a day touring their workplace and shadowing them at work. Students would observe a typical Purpose workday including meetings with staff and cli‐ ents. A series of basic coaching sessions com‐ The Mentor‐Telemachus Program will provide pleted by phone, e‐mail or in person will com‐ opportunities for students and SW Section mem‐ plete the basic mentor commitment. The type bers to close the distance between school and and frequency of these sessions are determined the profession through face‐to‐face and E‐ mentoring relationships. Section members can by the mentor so as to be the least interfering enrich the quality of the student experience by with their personal and professional priorities. interacting, exchanging ideas, and sharing their experiences and knowledge with future plan‐ ners. "My mother certainly says I am Odysseus' son; but for myself I cannot tell. It's a wise child that knows its own father."

(Telemachus to Athena as the Taphian stranger. Homer, Odyssey 1.215).

Communication General Structure It is hoped that each student and mentor pair A student planner at the Indiana County Office of would engage (minimally) in several informal Planning and Development will serve as the exchanges by phone or email. These interactions Mentor‐Telemachus Program Coordinator and would help the student be better informed about administer the program. Students and mentors the profession in which the professional is em‐ will need to fill out a short survey to be used by ployed, about their career path, and about ways the student to broker likely matches between the student can prepare for, move into, and ad‐ students and mentors. Once a match is made the vance in the profession. details of program activities come under control of the mentor and student. Beyond the basic Further Coaching and Shadowing commitment, students and mentors are free to Beyond the basic commitment the relationship flesh out specific activities as they see fit. could grow. Depending upon willingness, the mentor could decide to provide students with an Who Should be (a) Mentor? opportunity to perform mock job interviews or Mentor was not Telemachus’ only guide. The god- introduce students to the professional network. dess Athena would occasionally disguise herself as Mentors could also provide advice on career op‐ Mentor providing divine, if hidden, guidance to tions, share professional “war stories”, direct the both Telemachus and Odysseus. So both disguised student towards internships/summer positions, goddesses and mere mortals can be mentors. The volunteer opportunities and permanent jobs, only requirement is a sympathetic desire to assist and/or consult on résumés, cover letters, or cer‐ young people on the early legs of their own profes- tain ways to approach a potential employer. sional Odyssey.