You’re someone with big dreams and a long list of goals you want to pursue.

You may think that the best way to get everything done is to hunker down and crush your goals independently—but there actually may be a better way. Finding a mentor can help you stay on track, achieve everything on your wish list and ignite new passions you may not have realized you’re interested in.

Whether your mentor is a trusted former teacher, a family friend or even someone you were connected to through a mentor-mentee program, it’s helpful to have a smart, thoughtful adviser in your corner. Here are some reasons why finding a mentor is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

A Mentor Can Be Objective

Maybe you’ve decided that you no longer want to apply to college as a biology major, and instead are interested in pursuing an English degree. It’s possible that your parents have their own ideas about your education and what you should pursue—which means it’s pretty hard to have a conversation with them that accurately weighs all the pros and cons of your decision. A mentor, on the other hand, doesn’t have quite as much personal stake in your life choices, and can help you rationally and carefully plan for your future.

A Mentor Can Connect You to New People

Your friends and family can be great resources for networking, but finding a mentor outside of your social circle means opening up yourself to a brand-new set of people from whom you can also learn and grow. If your mentor is in a field that you hope to one day pursue, they can help you get your foot in the door, or at least learn everything you can about that particular path.

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(Boy Meets World via ABC)

A Mentor Can Help You Set and Meet Goals

How many times have you set a New Year’s resolution for yourself, only to have it fall by the wayside come February? Think of a mentor as a built-in accountability system. Talking to a mentor about what you hope to achieve, whether it’s applying to an intense internship program or cutting your time in track, can help hold yourself accountable to those goals. Simply checking in with a mentor on your progress can make you more inclined to complete tasks—you have someone who is cheering you on.

A Mentor Gives You One-on-One Attention

Friends can be an amazing support system, but it goes both ways. You can’t talk about your goals endlessly with your friends without them expecting you to do the same. A mentor-mentee relationship, on the other hand, allows you to totally fill in your mentor on everything you hope to do, without feeling like the friend who is dominating every conversation. (Just, you know, make sure you’re nice and ask how they’re doing, too!)

Want to get inspired to reach your goals? Click HERE for inspirational quotes every senior in high school needs to hear.

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