Considering Autonomy
Mary Beth Rich and Robert D. Brown describe a 鈥渃urvilinear relationship between Autonomy and perceived readiness to be a mentee鈥 (297) in their study of student perceptions about their mentoring needs, noting greater need at the earliest and latest periods of development. Considering this developmental arc and the implications for your experiences working with students, you can plan for periods of growing independence followed by an increasing need for mentorship as projects conclude and students make plans for graduation.
鈥淎s students become more independent of others, they may rebel for a time and perceive no need for support. When the students become more fully autonomous, however, and perhaps become involved more deeply in identity formation, they may search for mentors as role models and once again have an interest in the mentoring relationship.鈥 Rice, M. B., & Brown, R. D. (1990). Developmental factors associated with self-perceptions of mentoring competence and mentoring needs. Journal of College Student Development, 31(4), 293鈥299.