A year into my tech career, I found myself stepping into a new role—one that felt both thrilling and terrifying: I became a mentor. The idea of guiding someone fresh in the industry was exhilarating, but it also came with a whirlwind of emotions that I hadn’t anticipated.
Being a fresher not too long ago, I knew what it felt like to be lost in the endless sea of new information, feeling like everyone else knew more than I did. Now, as a mentor, those feelings came rushing back but from a different perspective. I was no longer just responsible for my learning; I was now a guide, a support system, and hopefully, an inspiration for someone else.
The Nervous Start
At first, I was filled with self-doubt. Who was I to mentor someone? I only had a year of experience! My mind was constantly filled with questions: What if I give the wrong advice? What if I don’t know the answer? What if my mentee doesn’t respect my guidance?
The pressure was real. I was scared of failing, not just for myself but for my mentee. But amidst this sea of anxiety, I also felt something incredible—responsibility. I had someone looking up to me, and that pushed me to be better(the team).
Learning Through Mentorship
Mentorship was not just about teaching; it was about learning, too. As I navigated this new role, I realized that the experience was refining me in ways I hadn’t expected. I had to revisit the basics, explain concepts clearly, and sometimes admit when I didn’t know something. This forced me to step up my own game, to relearn and understand things more deeply.
There were moments of pure joy—when my mentee successfully completed a challenging task, when they grasped a difficult concept, or when they thanked me for my guidance. Those small wins were like fuel, reminding me why I took this on in the first place. I wasn’t just helping them; I was growing alongside them.
We worked on fixing some bugs and making enhancements, such as addressing a limitation from Meta in the interactive templates. If that limit is exceeded, messages won’t be sent on WhatsApp, so we already had validation on the frontend. Since Glific has a split tech architecture, we needed the same validation on the backend as well. We also launched a feature called template_flows, which the interns also contributed to.
The Battle with Self-Doubt
One of the hardest parts was battling the constant need for validation. I felt like I was always seeking approval—sometimes from my peers, sometimes from my mentee, and often from myself. It took time, but I slowly began to trust my instincts more, to accept that it was okay not to have all the answers, and that my value as a mentor wasn’t defined by perfection but by my willingness to support, guide, and learn from my mentee.
One Step Ahead
Mentoring for the first time was a rollercoaster of emotions. There were moments of doubt, fear, and frustration, but also immense pride, joy, and growth. I’ve learned that seeking validation isn’t a weakness, but a part of the human experience. Most importantly, I’ve realized that mentorship is as much about giving as it is about growing.