This guidance was adapted from an interview with AiC Stories Ambassador, Bryn Loftness. AiC Community members can read her profile here.
From her undergraduate journey building BPMBox — a pager-like homemade heart rate sensor that monitored pulse — to launching childhood mental health start-up Biobe, Bryn’s impressive career has been positively impacted by early mentorship. The support from leading professors in her life has helped Bryn remain curious and enveloped in her projects — attributes that have been essential in creating long-lasting impact as a translational scientist.
Let this be your reminder: The relationships you build throughout your journey are just as important as the technical skills, too! This year, amongst your academic and internship goals, also make time to take the first step in cultivating relationships with potential mentors.
“Finding great mentors, in my experience, goes hand-in-hand with being intentional and actively seeking out opportunities. The strongest mentor relationships I’ve built started with a shared goal or genuine mutual interest — something we’re both curious about or working toward. Once we’re aligned, I try to learn as much as I can from them: being a sponge, watching how they think and work, and offering my own ideas that contribute to their vision as well. As a result of learning from them while also adding value, a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship often develops, and sometimes evolves into long-term collaborations or partnerships. If you’re looking for mentors you might share a passion or project with, go where they are,” advises the AiC Stories Ambassador.
If you’ve ever wondered how you too can find a mentor, naturally, read Bryn’s advice below:
The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Community opens pathways and creates opportunities for careers in technology by providing opportunities to connect and gain recognition, resources, and skills. #NCWITAiC hosts several events for the AiC Community throughout the year to build networks and connections, explore ideas and skills, and host meetups with likeminded peers.
To join, students in high school and college, as well as early-career professionals, can register to become an AiC Community Member at aspirations.org.
