Joshua Schuler, Executive Director of the Lemelson-MIT Program

In high school I played several sports including, soccer, volleyball and crew. I spent my entire soccer career on the bench and was an average rower. Thankfully, I excelled in volleyball. Mr. Habecker, an accomplished triathlete throughout his career, coached both soccer and volleyball. He was not content to tell us to run — he would join us. He was someone to listen to and respect, and he was the type of coach you did not want to disappoint.

I didn’t fully understand the meaning of teamwork until Coach took me out of a championship game — my last game! I was replaced by a substitute, who had spent most of the season on the bench.

I remember this event, because I learned about responsibility and humility — granted, it was through Coach’s actions. At the time I was not in the most receptive of moods to absorb his lessons, but they have had plenty of time to sink in.

A number of people have been mentors to me, including my parents, sister, friends, and college advisors. My experience has taught me that you can find a mentor in almost any person you know. Everyone has something to teach — provided you’re willing to learn.

Fostering mentorship to enable and inspire young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention is at the forefront of the Lemelson-MIT Program’s objectives. This focus inspired the program’s two annual events to combine this year under one main event, EurekaFest. The InvenTeams Odyssey, which gathers teams of national high-school students to display and discuss their invention prototypes, will join the ceremony to recognize the 2008 winners of the Lemelson-MIT Awards and celebrate the inventive spirit in a new way. We hope this union will establish a community of inventors and mentors in all stages of their careers.

We would like you to share your experiences with mentorship. Who was your greatest mentor? What was one of your significant mentor roles? Tell us about the impact a mentor experience had on you.

In addition, please share your thoughts on how one creates a successful mentor relationship. What important roles should mentors take on today?