Page 23 - the SyI Quarterly 11

Our Membership

A year of mentoring: David and I have kept in regular contact through
our mentoring sessions, generally aiming for once a
month. I have found the monthly sessions to be of
huge benefit. It is always helpful to get an ‘outside’
perspective on any issues / problems; study, work, or
whatever it may be. Having that ear just for that hour
A reflection really was helpful.

So, writing this exactly a year on what have I learnt?
David is an exceptional human being. Even though I am
yet to meet him in person, he has been instrumental
Dominic Chandler MSyI in me developing as a person. Bob Proctor once wrote,
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability
within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring
it out of you.” This I believe to be true. The biggest
This will be my second time writing for SyI Quarterly. take-away for me from being a part of the mentoring
I find it no less daunting than when I wrote last year. scheme is learning to believe in myself more. Pushing
This time however, I wish to write on a topic that is not what I thought I was capable of, not being confined
so much mentioned within these pages, the Institute’s to my ‘little box’. Also accepting failure, seeing where I
Mentoring Scheme. I am presently writing this exactly have gone wrong, recognising and learning from it. If
a year to the day after I sought the advice of the you don’t fail, you don’t learn.
membership on the Community Platform with regards
to pursuing the idea of undertaking a degree. Off the I would most definitely encourage anybody, irrespective
back of that thread, and many members’ opinions, all of age to join the mentoring scheme. You will be
of which I am still most grateful for, something rather amazed just what it can do for you. I am most grateful
unexpected happened. to David for his time, support and commitment over
the past 12 months. I wouldn’t be where I am without
One of the respondent’s was Dr. David BaMaung CSyP him. I hope to pay this forward one day by being a
FSyI. David’s advice to me listing Pros and Cons of mentor myself and be an encouragement to a younger
undertaking study were very thought provoking, after professional.
all, there was a lot to consider. Of these, one point
literally stood out “Finally, learning is fun!” I subsequently You can find out more information regarding our
took up David’s offer to contact him further and sent Mentoring Platform on page 32-33.
him an email. Exchanging emails naturally led to a
phone call being arranged. I remember this well as we
had arranged the call for 10am on a Thursday – our
weekly fire alarm test time at work. We agreed to have a
10-minute chat. (This “10-minute chat” ended up being
about 40 minutes if memory serves me correctly) It was
during this phone call that the Institute’s Mentoring
programme was mentioned. Truth be told, I didn’t think
I was worth anyone’s time, but having somebody of
David’s experience and expertise offer to mentor me
was a real privilege and humbling. We were duly set
up on the Mentoring Platform by Di Thomas HON FSyI.
Our first session was arranged on a lovely April evening.
After some minor technical hitches on my end, my goals
were agreed, and I set about working towards them.

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