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I’ve Never Had a Mentor 

John W. Pinkerton

oldjwpinkerton@gmail.com


I’ve never had a mentor…you know…someone who has your best interest at heart who provides advice to move your life along in a positive way.


My dad was  not a mentor.  I was thinking about our years together the other day, and I could not recall a moment that he suggested any advice which might advance my well being.   Wait a minute---I just recalled that he did talk about the possibility of my going to Tulane on a Navy scholarship.  I rejected the offer firmly and immediately.


My first superintendent, Mr. Simmons, suggested that I should prepare for his job.  I rejected his suggestion firmly and immediately.


Mr. Nixon, an ex-superintendent and junior high principal, suggested that he saw my future at Blinn College, an excellent junior college a few miles south of Somerille.  I rejected his suggestion firmly and immediately.


Each of these men took a shot at mentoring me, and they could have been giving good advice…they tried, and I appreciate their efforts. 


I suppose the reason I rejected these potential mentors’ suggestions firmly and immediately was that they had greater ambitions for me than I had for myself.


Like Dad, I have very little potential as a mentor.  Well, I have advice for folks---but it doesn’t rise to the level of life-altering advice.  I think it’s in my best interest to give mentoring advice to young men---not young women.  Well, I do have one piece of advice for young women: don’t handicap yourself by marrying the first guy who says, “I LUV YOU.”


Enough said.


As for young men…

1.If a young fellow is about to get married, I suggest he buy a large chest to put his belongings in because his new bride will surely banish his belongings from their shared abode. 

2.If a young fellow plays golf, I suggest that he assume a posture when he addresses the ball so that from a hundred yards away he at least makes it appear that he knows what he’s doing…even if he doesn’t.

  1. 3.Bathe regularly and use deoderant.


That’s about the sum total of my mentoring.  


You’re welcome.

enough