Original Post from September 18, 2012 – Thought it was time to repost…
A mentor is an important thing to have.
Everyone needs one, even a mentor should have a mentor. Sometimes they are assigned, sometimes you have to seek one out. Other times you come to a realization that you’ve had one for a while and didn’t even know it.
I had seen Dave Steffenhagen at a few roundtables I had attended. I had never been introduced, but had heard that he was a ‘good guy’. So when he made a pitch one day for a cold weather camping course, I was interested and took a flyer from him. Eventually I signed up for the course, called OKPIK, and found that he was taking the course at the same time and place. Even though we took the same course, we never exchanged more than a hello, or a passing “hey” as we both headed in our own direction.
During the course, we both happened to attend our District Recognition Dinner. I was feeling proud that I had made it back in time from the OKPIK session (still in my outdoor gear) and was on hand to get my Unit Recognition that Blair Piotrowski was giving me. After that, and after dinner, it was the main event – the big award – the District Award of Merit.
Dave was a recipient.
Listening the presenter go through the list of scouting and life accomplishments that had brought Dave to receive the award was staggering. Any sense of vanity I had was quickly swept away in shame as I heard program after program Dave had taken part in and the things he had accomplished.
He already had a legacy. I have wanted, ever since that moment, to be that kind of person.
I didn’t get to know Dave until a few months later when he approached me to be on staff for Blackhawk’s first OKPIK course. Dave was the course director, or “the boss”. After a couple of meetings, I got the call that both shocked me, and lifted me up all at the same time – Dave called me to see if I would accept the Senior Patrol Leader position on his course. I was embarrassed at first, since there were so many other more experienced scouters he could have asked.
(And in retrospect, maybe he did ask and I was the only one crazy enough to say yes).
After I hung up, began wondering how I, a scouter with only 2 years experience, was going to not let down this seasoned and experienced leader.
Dave leads by example – always professional, always prepared. He listened to my ideas, guided me and was able to get me to do more than I would have ever thought I could have. By the end of the first course, I knew, with absolute certainty, that I could run any scouting course – especially the one we were on. That was Dave’s gift to me – knowing that when I emulated him, I was getting stuff done, effectively.
When you know someone believes in you – they know that you have something in you that you may not know yourself – and they show you the right way by example – you have a mentor. They always have an idea to plant in your ear – not the whole plan – just the seed to get you going… The encouragement that lifts you up is like a cool blast of fresh air – pushing you on, without an agenda, other than your success.
After two years of SPL for OKPIK, I am worried again – I’ve been tapped to take over for Dave as course director. I’m nervous, and unsure. But it’s ok, my mentor already knows this – he sent me a text today, and he wants to have breakfast tomorrow.
My mentor’s name is Dave.
