Over the years, I’ve had many transitions in regards to my branding. The one thing that remained, though somewhat buried, was my desire to support writers and graphic designers. Mentors play a huge part in my life. The idea of mentoring someone else, or even encouraging somebody, lightens my spirit.
There’s a variety of mentors though. Some come from your field, guiding your path to success in xyz. Others encourage from the sidelines, checking in with a quick text or friendly lunch. And then there are the mentors who influence your character and decision-making style. These people are perhaps the most important and trusted as they shape the person you are when the fame dies away.
For me, the greatest mentor of all has to be my mom.
The Myth. The Legend. My Mom.
Michele Seidel, my amazing mother, is an engineer who served in our nation’s Navy as a commanding officer and taught astronauts at NASA. She loves math and science and inspires kids as a middle and high school teacher. While running their own business, she and my father inspire others to be their own boss. I can’t name how many people have come to me saying how awesome my parents are (it’s weird). Logic and order are her best friends and Office Depot is her happy place.
I mimicked her personality and interests in my younger years, though science and math didn’t come as easily. Still, I fooled everyone into thinking I was a mini her. Not difficult since everyone thought we looked and sounded alike. People still say I look like her and have the same mannerisms to this day. But I’m quite the opposite.
The Passion Dilemma
Given my dad lends to the engineering-side as well, we’re not sure how my art interest came about. I’m told at the age of six I announced I was going to be an author. My interests lended toward color and art, but I played both sides and showed interest in reading and math.
Mom knew better. She helped me through math and got me hooked on logic puzzles. But when I needed to pick a degree, she ignored the path that came naturally to her. Even at a young age, she saw my potential in art and writing and so helped me pursue those talents and dreams. Uncharted territory to say the least, which was why she connected me with individuals who knew the space better.
However, she didn’t back away and leave me to untangle the unknowns. Mom dove in to help. She read my books with interest and joined me in writing workshops. Despite engineering and math being her happy place, she researched art colleges and suggested I study Graphic Design to support my writing career. She even visited a few campuses with me, though the SCAD campus in Savannah overwhelmed her most. I still can’t get over the years I competed in horseback riding. If waking at 5am to drive to an all-day competition and cleaning horse poop isn’t love, I’m not sure what is.
The Personality Dilemma
Obviously my mom sounds pretty awesome. I even won some cool kid points for the NASA thing when I was in elementary school. What makes her so incredible as a mentor though is how she acts and speaks.
Throughout my life, she modeled strength, integrity, and respect. It didn’t matter the person or the situation. Everyone gained her attention and respect as an individual despite their ideals. She explained why certain things like social media and Halloween weren’t allowed or celebrated and she promoted honesty and truth in our household. To the point where I was really confused why some of my friends hid secrets from their parents.
While she couldn’t help me with writing or design, my mom raised me with a foundation of respect, love, and loyalty. She protected me from certain things I wanted and trained me to think critically and speak with intention. I wouldn’t be who I am today without her.
Mentors of All Kinds
Sometimes mentors know the path and backtrack to help you along. They hold your hand with confidence and strut through obstacles they’ve already overcome. As important as these mentors are (and I have a few), there are also those who don’t know the right path. They’re just as lost, looking around every corner to find an open door. But they still hold your hand. They still walk beside you. While you’re learning, they are too. And they’re invested in helping you succeed, whether it’s finding the right mentors or strengthening your inner voice.
That’s the kind of mentor my mom is. She’s supported me through my rollercoaster of emotions and anxieties and continues to push me to be better. That’s why I celebrate her, not only because she’s my mom, but because she’s my greatest mentor.
