January is National Mentoring Month!
Mentorship can be a critical component in a young person’s life. A mentor empowers their mentee to make smart choices, putting them on the path to making good decisions in their career and in life. Mentoring is a central component in the National Institutes of Health’s national BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) initiative, which trains undergraduates in biomedical research with the goal of diversifying the scientific research workforce.
Mentorship is important to supporting diversity in the sciences, as many students from underrepresented backgrounds are the first in their families to pursue higher education and may not otherwise have help navigating the journey to becoming a researcher. BUILD mentors help students gain valuable research experience and guide them to choose the best graduate program for their career goals. BUILD mentors often also help their mentees build leadership and management skills, expand their professional network, and experience an empowering opportunity to give back to the community.
You can start posting as soon as today, for International Mentoring Day! BUILD appreciates our mentors’ commitment and generosity to their students and to the program. On top of their teaching responsibilities and maintaining their own research careers, mentors serve as a resource to students. This January, we are celebrating our mentors with a social media campaign, #MyBUILDMentor. All January long, the 10 university campuses in the BUILD initiative and the National Research Mentoring Network will highlight mentors and mentees on social media. Post a photo or video and describe how mentorship has benefited or positively impacted you!
Hashtags to use during January:
#MyBUILDmentor
#NationalMentoringMonth
#MyMentor or #Mentor
#MyMentee
#Mentorship
#ThankYourMentorDay (Jan 25)
Your university’s hashtag
Here are some important dates that are part of National Mentoring Month:
Jan. 17 – International Mentoring Day. Mentors and mentees from around the world will be sharing their stories with photos and video on social media. Please join in and use the hashtags #MyBUILDMentor, #InternationalMentoringDay, #NationalMentoringMonth, and #MyMentor. Mentors can also use the hashtag, #MyMentee when posting about their students.
Jan. 22 – The National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) launches their new MyMentor virtual mentoring platform. Use the hashtag #MyMentor.
Jan. 25 – Thank Your Mentor Day. We encourage BUILD trainees to share their appreciation for their mentors on social media using the hashtags #MyBUILDMentor, #ThankYourMentor and #NationalMentoringMonth.
Jan. 26 – NRMN #MyBUILDmentor Twitter Chat. From 2-3pm ET/1-2pm CT/11-12pm PT, join the NRMN and BUILD online to culminate the #MyBUILDmentor campaign!
To make it easier for you to join in the national conversation on mentorship, see below a variety of suggested posts and social media-friendly templates available for your use.
Social Media Post Suggestions
For BUILD Mentees
Thank you @[TAG YOUR MENTOR] for being #MyBUILDMentor. This #NationalMentoringMonth I hope you'll join me in thanking your #mentor using #ThankYourMentor!
It’s #NationalMentoringMonth! Celebrate the mentors who made a difference in your life and #ThankYourMentor! #MyBUILDMentor #MyMentor
The most valuable thing I learned from #MyBUILDMentor is [share what you learned]. #NationalMentoringMonth
For BUILD Mentors
This #NationalMentoringMonth, you can be the difference a future researcher needs to succeed. Become a #Mentor! #MyBUILDMentor
I'm a proud #Mentor! I hope you'll also become a mentor this #NationalMentoringMonth. #MyBUILDmentor
Mentoring starts by getting out there and connecting with inspiring people. #MyBUILDMentor #NationalMentoringMonth
What I love most about being a #mentor is [share what you love] #MyBUILDmentor #NationalMentoringMonth
- #MyMentee is great because _____. I’ve learned _______ from being a #Mentor. #MyBUILDmentor #NationalMentoringMonth
Here are social media examples for National Mentoring Month. Please download them and share!
