I mentor a number of people, male and female, young
and old. But, on Facebook I was talking
specifically about 2 junior high school boys whom I officially mentor. I said that I prefer to call them my PROTEGES
rather than my “mentees.”
The question that followed was, “What’s the
difference between a protégé and a mentee?”
The answer:
None and much.
Linguistically, the terms are synonymous. It’s really just a matter of personal
preference in which you use.
But I call my guys PROTEGES is because I look at it
a bit deeper.
The word mentee is a derivation of MENTOR. The mentee is the object of the mentor. It implies that the human mentee is simply an
extension of his/her mentor. And even
when we talk about mentees, we usually think of them as people who are
desperate or in need of help, someone who is “at risk.”
On the other hand, the word protégé is not derived
from mentor. Protégé is
independent. Their relationship is
mutual. When I think of a protégé, I
think of someone who is destined to follow in the footsteps of greatness, and
then to excel beyond the works of his/her mentor.
The connotation of a mentee is someone characterized
by his/her past deprivation. The
connotation of a protégé is someone characterized by his/her future greatness.
I could be overthinking the concept. (I’ve been known to do that.) It doesn’t REALLY matter with term you
use. But, if you’re a mentor it does
matter that you remember your role.
As a mentor, your job is not to create more little YOUs. Your job is bring out great THEMs.
---Anderson
T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and
consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall
Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about
the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
If you enjoy our work, please help support our work
in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
