Regular Meeting 142, Mar. 31, 2026 (Online)

Mentoring: A Journey of Growth Together

Today’s meeting was held online, and the theme was Mentoring.

During the meeting, we had breakout sessions where we discussed mentoring in small groups. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our own experiences—both as mentors and mentees—and to hear different perspectives from others.

In Toastmasters, when you join a club, you are usually assigned a mentor. This mentor is an experienced member within the club who supports you as you begin your journey.

I still remember the first time I became a mentor.

My mentee was from Indonesia.

At that time, I didn’t feel like an “experienced member” at all (I had only been in Toastmasters for just over a year). I was still learning about Toastmasters myself, and I didn’t have much confidence in my English either.

Because of that, becoming a mentor—especially for someone from another country—felt like a big responsibility. To be honest, it felt overwhelming.

But I also felt that if I was going to take on this role, I wanted to do my best.

So I tried to learn as much as I could.

I learned more about Toastmasters, observed how meetings were run, and became more mindful of how I spoke, participated, and contributed to the club. Above all, I supported her with sincerity.

There is one moment I will never forget.

One day, she told me,“I’m really glad that you were my mentor.”

When I heard those words, I felt that all my efforts had been rewarded.All the doubts, the pressure, and the time I spent trying to support her—everything suddenly felt meaningful.

Looking back, I realize something important.

Mentoring is not about being perfect or having all the answers.It’s about being there, supporting each other, and growing together.

And sometimes, the experience of mentoring helps us grow even more than we expect.

Maho Hummel

President, 2025-2026