Effective Mentors Can Come From Many Sources
What was the significance of these letter exchanges between two solitary Chinese boys and their white teachers and mentors? Even though both boys moved from the familiar worlds of their hometowns, both needed, sought, and received the security and assurance of regular communication with someone from back home that they admired and trusted. Neither of the two John Jungs had any peers in their hometowns of their own age or ethnic background. Psychological theories assume that such peers strongly affect development., but they were absent from the early lives of both John Jungs. The examples of the two John Jungs illustrate how effective emotional support can come from unexpected sources. People differing from the boys in age, gender, and ethnicity proved to be highly effective and influential substitutes as mentors who guided the two John Jungs at an important stage in their development.