How to be independent

Decide early

The earlier they decide where they want to go and what they want to do with their life, the sooner they can start making decisions that will support their end goal. Encourage them to think about what is right for them, not what other people think or say.

Once they know what they want to achieve, help them to create a realistic action plan on how to achieve their goals.

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing."

Theodore Roosevelt

Listen and learn

Everyone makes mistakes. The earlier your mentees realise they can learn from other people, the better. Share your experiences with them, be honest. Tell them the good and bad that you’ve had to deal with. Then help them prepare to make the right decisions in the same situations.

Once they know what they want to achieve, help them to create a realistic action plan on how to achieve their goals.

"Learn from the mistakes of others, you can never live long enough to make them all yourself."

Groucho Marx

Take responsibility, move forward

One of the things that come with independence is responsibility. When you own your decisions, you own the consequences, both good and bad. Teach your mentees not to look for someone to blame, but to take responsibility, identify where you went wrong, make amends, learn from it and move forward.

Once they know what they want to achieve, help them to create a realistic action plan on how to achieve their goals.

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."

William J. Clinton