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2. Always be honest.
Trust and respect are the foundations on which mentorship is built.

3. Avoid being judgmental of a student's life situation.
Acceptance without conditions communicates that your concern comes without strings attached.

4. Avoid excessive gift giving.
And don't do for a student what s/he can do for him/herself. Your greatest gift is to help a person discover his/her own solutions to the problems.

5. Don't expect to have all the answers.
Sometimes just listening attentively is all people need.

6. Help your student access resources and expand support networks.
Discuss the importance of maintaining positive relationships.

7. Be clear about your expectations and your boundaries.
Set up ground rules and communicate them.

8. Avoid being overwhelmed by your student's problems.
Remain calm and dispassionate to help students solve problems.

9. Respect confidentiality.
Good friends do.

10. If the relationship seems to stall, hang in there.
Contact program coordinators if problems or concerns arise.

Source: Mentoring Myths and Tips
Nancy Henry, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory