Article: A good mentor will help you learn to do things, but not do them for you. A mentor leads by example. For example, an academic mentor may offer efficiency tricks, advice, and examples to show you smart alternatives for success, but not help you copy edit your history essay in the waning moments before it is due. This is the difference between a tutor and a mentor. A good mentor will:  Assess your strengths and weaknesses Help you understand the structure and organization of the topic Introduce new perspectives and correct any wrong thinking Boost your ability to make decisions Familiarize you with the tricks of the trade Introduce you to important resources and useful references This type of mentoring usually consists of face-to-face sessions with someone who excels in the subject matter you are studying has the time to offer you a mentorship, and an interest in your academic achievement. Consider:  Professors, instructors, and other faculty Older or more experienced students Siblings or other family members Think about mentors who excel at the sport you're interested in developing. While athletic ability is an important part of a sporting mentor, also consider the human side of the relationship when considering an athletic mentor. A good soccer mentor will be a good sport, an intelligent athlete, and an all-around person as well as being a phenomenal soccer player. Consider:  Coaches and assistants Experienced players on your team or other teams Professional athletes or retired athletes Trainers Business and other professional mentors are usually successful workers in the field you hope to crack into, who will be able to offer you some tricks of the trade. This could be anything from stock trading to blues guitar. Think about who does what you want to do better than you do it. Consider:  Colleagues and business acquaintances An old boss, though not a current supervisor Workers with a great reputation Develop a relationship with someone you admire personally, not because of what they do, but who they are and how they do it. Think of people who you'd like to be like, for no particular reason. A personal mentor might be:  A neighbor Your favorite bartender or barista Your personal style icon Someone you go to church with Your record store guy or girl A member of a social club you're a part of A mentor might be a neighbor or a classmate you admire, but it might also be someone you've never met. Rainer Maria Rilke's famous book Letters to a Young Poet chronicles the correspondence between the famous poet (Rilke) and a young student writer who sent him some poems and asked for advice. Consider:  Successful people you may have read about and felt some connection to People with a considerable and approachable Internet presence Anyone who fits any of the criteria for a mentor, but you don't know personally yet
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Understand the role of a mentor. Consider an academic mentor. Consider sports and recreational mentoring. Consider a business mentor. Consider a personal mentor. Think about different ways to communicate.