Inspiring true story - The importance of coaching and mentoring

As part of our 50th edition, we have included a few inspiring stories. The first story discusses the importance of coaching and mentoring. 

You may have seen or heard on television or in the news how a coach rescued an artistic swimmer, Anita Alvarez. This illustrates the importance of having a good coach or mentor. Additionally, the incident emphasises how important support and guidance can be in times of need.

In our role as coaches and mentors, we are responsible for helping learners achieve their full potential and for helping them reach their goals. Our learners, however, also require us to identify and assess all potential risks, opportunities, weaknesses, and strengths, that exist for them. 

There is a great deal of responsibility on the part of a coach to provide their learners with a platform where they can perform, watch and monitor their performance critically, provide guidance and support, and most importantly, be ready to help their learners when they need their assistance or sometimes fail even after they have tried their best. 

At the world championships in Budapest recently, USA's Anita Alvarez slowly sank to the bottom of the pool. After scanning the deck of the pool, her coach, Andrea Fuentes, made a split-second decision: In order to save her, she dove into the water.

We should be reminded of the importance of coaching and mentoring by this image. It was this coach that was able to recognise when Anita was in the water for longer than she would normally be able to. There was a desire for this coach to help. There was a willingness to save on the part of this coach. Despite others watching on the sidelines, this coach acted. 

This story reminds us of how we have too many young people drowning at work, in everyday situations, etc. Due to the pressure that comes from navigating life's challenges, we see many walk away, and unfortunately, some even take their own lives. It is not shameful to ask for help and it is also not shameful to lend a helping hand.

As a young person, if you do not have a mentor, you need to find one as soon as possible. If you are a seasoned veteran and do not have a mentee, then you should find one now, because there should be no excuse for anyone to drown.