Staying Healthy

How to be a mentor

Sharing your life experiences and wisdom with the younger generation can benefit both them and you.

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Did you have someone in your life you looked up to? A role model who offered guidance and advice during your formative childhood years or early in your career? These mentors helped shape the person you became. Now is an ideal time to return the favor and become a mentor for a younger person.

"Many older adults have valuable insight and experience that can benefit the next generation as well as improve their own well-being in the process," says Dr. Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, director of pediatric residency training with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, who leads the hospital's mentorship program. "Mentorship can be a wonderful gift for everyone involved."

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