A Thank You to My Mentors

This week, I was fortunate enough to be a small, invisible part of the memorial service celebrating the life & legacy of a VO legend who passed away earlier this month. As the intimate local theatre filled with his family, friends & fans, it amazed me to see how many people turned out to celebrate this amazing man's life and work. The memorial was truly a celebration, filled with music and love and tributes. And as the tributes came, one after the other in long succession, what struck me the most about this highly successful man was not merely his talent, but his generosity & mentorship: that he would sit down with other VO actors and offer advice and give generously of his time, talent and resources to support various causes that were near and dear to his heart.


And I was reminded of two things:

1) How amazing and supportive people in the VO industry are. Everyone I have met - whether it's a well established talent/producer/director/engineer or a nearly new student of the discipline - has been helpful and collegial - full of kind words, thoughtful advice and generous spirit. I have been buoyed by that support in my own VO education & process.



2) The importance of mentorship and "paying it forward" - regardless of your chosen profession. We can't do what we do alone, in a vacuum. All that I've been able to accomplish thus far in my life is due in part to a mentor's influence: whether it's teaching me the ropes (political & practical) in my newest office gig, showing me a cool new tool or resource, opening my ears to a different method of performing, or serving as a professional or personal reference - without them, I couldn't be here, doing what I love most.



Said another way, it's up to us to train & develop the next generation, regardless of our chosen discipline. Regardless of whether or not our mentee will one day succeed us in our current role. It doesn't matter whether we lead by example or take the time to coach one on one. That mentorship is one small way to ensure that we have left our company (or industry, community, world!) a better place in a lasting and meaningful way. And after listening to countless stories from friends, family & VO colleagues pay tribute to one of their own this week, I was reminded of this: that his advice, help, generosity, etc. helped them in some way to become better people and professionals, just as my own mentors have helped me to do the same.



And that's why today I'm also paying tribute to my mentors, near and far, past, present & future: Thank you for helping me to become the person, professional & artist that I am, and the one that I am becoming. And thanks, DLF, for your inspiring example.