My Mentor
Everyone has a mentor. That mentor helps you with many different things. Who is my mentor and what makes him my mentor? My mentor is my former Minister of Music, Reverend Keith Pate. Mr. Keith taught me that you cannot just be a minister, but more importantly, a servant and a loving person. He taught me an appreciable amount about music and spirituality. He helped me get through situations that would have been much harder to manage if he had not been there. Mr. Keith is like a father to me; he is someone whom I have admired my whole life, especially since I was called into the music ministry. Also, he continues to educate me about my future endeavors.
First of all, Mr. Keith has taught me to think of others before myself. The entire time I have known him, he has thought of others before himself. Not only does he worry about the songs he has to lead or the special music he has to plan, he thinks about the congregation and the individuals in the choir/orchestra. My mentor showed me that simply listening to someone can lift his or her spirit; just a simple smile can make someone feel special. If something was wrong, Mr. Keith could look at that person and automatically sense that he or she was feeling down. Anytime an individual needed help, he was there for him or her. He did not just brush you aside like many others do.
While my mentor is helpful during difficult times, he also participates in happier moments. In children’s choir, he taught us a lot about music. He knows all the children he had in children’s choir by name. He still cares about us and how we are doing. In children’s choir, he did not just teach us songs; he taught us elements of music. For example, Mr. Keith taught us about the scales, basic music theory, and solfege. He made music fun for each choir member.
Most importantly, I have learned from Mr. Keith that it is not just about listening, but also caring for others and making them feel like they are not alone through hard situations. The day I had knee surgery, he came to visit me in order to pray for me and the doctors. When something happened and someone just needed a person to talk to, he would listen.
Many times in my life, he has reminded me that people care about me even if I feel like I have no friends. When he told the choir/orchestra that he was leaving to go to a church in Alabama, he called the people that it would be harder on to let them know before he told the whole group. Mr. Keith treats each person as an individual instead of just a member of the choir, orchestra, or congregation; I think that is one of the most important things that he taught me besides the importance of reading the Bible daily. It is important to read the Bible because a person learns more about Jesus and how he or she is supposed to live.
Even if he does not realize it, Mr. Keith has been like a father to me for the past few years. He came to my church as the minister of music when I was five. He has taught me so much that I will not realize until later some of the lessons he has taught me.
One day after orchestra practice, when I was in ninth grade, I was talking to him and decided to finally tell him I had been called into the music ministry. His face lit up like a lightning bug and he asked me how long I had known. I told him I had known since seventh grade. However, if I had told people then, they might not have believed me. Then, he realized one of the reasons why God brought him there was to be an example to me. He will always be an example to me, even as I grow up. I call him every week and talk to him because he is always interested in what is going on. I do not think he knows how much the calls mean to me. Sometimes, just talking to him makes me happy (especially after a long or bad week). Mr. Keith will never know all the people he has touched in his life. He taught me many life lessons that will help me now and in the future; that is what makes him such a great mentor.
Everyone needs a mentor that can teach them new ways of looking at life. While parents may tell you one thing, a person outside the family will tell you the same thing in new words which can be easier to understand at times.
First of all, Mr. Keith has taught me to think of others before myself. The entire time I have known him, he has thought of others before himself. Not only does he worry about the songs he has to lead or the special music he has to plan, he thinks about the congregation and the individuals in the choir/orchestra. My mentor showed me that simply listening to someone can lift his or her spirit; just a simple smile can make someone feel special. If something was wrong, Mr. Keith could look at that person and automatically sense that he or she was feeling down. Anytime an individual needed help, he was there for him or her. He did not just brush you aside like many others do.
While my mentor is helpful during difficult times, he also participates in happier moments. In children’s choir, he taught us a lot about music. He knows all the children he had in children’s choir by name. He still cares about us and how we are doing. In children’s choir, he did not just teach us songs; he taught us elements of music. For example, Mr. Keith taught us about the scales, basic music theory, and solfege. He made music fun for each choir member.
Most importantly, I have learned from Mr. Keith that it is not just about listening, but also caring for others and making them feel like they are not alone through hard situations. The day I had knee surgery, he came to visit me in order to pray for me and the doctors. When something happened and someone just needed a person to talk to, he would listen.
Many times in my life, he has reminded me that people care about me even if I feel like I have no friends. When he told the choir/orchestra that he was leaving to go to a church in Alabama, he called the people that it would be harder on to let them know before he told the whole group. Mr. Keith treats each person as an individual instead of just a member of the choir, orchestra, or congregation; I think that is one of the most important things that he taught me besides the importance of reading the Bible daily. It is important to read the Bible because a person learns more about Jesus and how he or she is supposed to live.
Even if he does not realize it, Mr. Keith has been like a father to me for the past few years. He came to my church as the minister of music when I was five. He has taught me so much that I will not realize until later some of the lessons he has taught me.
One day after orchestra practice, when I was in ninth grade, I was talking to him and decided to finally tell him I had been called into the music ministry. His face lit up like a lightning bug and he asked me how long I had known. I told him I had known since seventh grade. However, if I had told people then, they might not have believed me. Then, he realized one of the reasons why God brought him there was to be an example to me. He will always be an example to me, even as I grow up. I call him every week and talk to him because he is always interested in what is going on. I do not think he knows how much the calls mean to me. Sometimes, just talking to him makes me happy (especially after a long or bad week). Mr. Keith will never know all the people he has touched in his life. He taught me many life lessons that will help me now and in the future; that is what makes him such a great mentor.
Everyone needs a mentor that can teach them new ways of looking at life. While parents may tell you one thing, a person outside the family will tell you the same thing in new words which can be easier to understand at times.
