Mentoring's Broken: Here's How to Hack It | Roxanne Reeves | TEDxMoncton

Where could you be with the right mentor? This former first lady was almost the "failed first lady" - she had painstakingly concealed literacy and learning disabilities into her thirties. But an accidental meeting with her future mentor would wholly change Roxanne’s life. In this bold and personal talk, Dr. Reeves, the “accidental doctor”, gives powerful advice about how to hack mentoring. Her story, a shared one, challenges how we think about mentorship. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@marcyjurkovic676]

I have known Roxanne since before she was the first lady and had no idea about her learning disability. WOW !!! I would have never guessed. It’s amazing what we all can accomplish with a little help. Thank you very much for sharing your experience and educating us about mentorship.

[@amyculberg]

love this line " (I thought)Everyone of value was in perfect working order" --I totally relate to that! Great talk!

[@peispud]

If you folks only had my perspective. Perspective lends so much to a story. I was a little boy that grew up poor with little chance of social acceptance. To say life was miserable would be a monumental understatement. It's taken a lifetime, to change, to grow as a person, and get past many many of my own mistakes. Roxanne was a gem in a neighbourhood that bore not an ounce of shine - nothing specific, she just was. I still remember being invited to her birthday parties as a small child. Maybe it was the fact that I was looked on the same as everyone else that struck a chord. I can tell you one thing. When I see her on that stage on top of the world, I have a big grin on my face.

[@normcouturier]

Mentoring affects people positively, and it is not always a "planned" activity. As an experienced entrepreneur, your impact on someone could be greater than you may think. An inspiring story.

[@littlejay42]

Thank you for opening up and sharing your story, Roxanne. There is so much we can do to enrich the lives of our youngest generation that, collectively, we are falling short of. This is such an important message, and I certainly dream of a world where that type developmental nourishment is available to every youth. Keep up the great work. 🤘🤓

[@Dylan-gh6fb]

So amazing! It is incredible to see where you are compared to where you were. Thank you for all of your help.

[@sarataaffe9337]

Amazing talk! Your message about the impact that exists in a mentor experience really resonated me - I've been more empowered to achieve new goals due to some of the amazing mentors in my life and this talk reminded me how important these relationships are. Additionally, I really admire your tenacity and perseverance in your academic journey.

[@amymayelle]

Great talk! I loved hearing your story in discovering your learning disability to understanding how to cope with it and conquer it. Very inspiring :)!

[@1slimkelt]

I have seen this power of a mentor as Roxanne has been an amazing one for my daughter the last few years at UNB and to this day as she continues her studies. As an educator myself, I believe wholeheartedly in her message. I can tell you she not only talks the talk, she walks the walk also. Wonderful person!

[@michellebradley7413]

Going to school with Roxanne, I had no idea. You have opened my eyes, that I to have the same thing. I salute you and I am very proud of you, for your accomplishments. Well Done!

[@haydencole9290]

Amazing talk Dr. Reeves!!! Unique perspective, very powerful and ground breaking!

[@suzannewies9557]

I appreciated this subject, mentoring is extremely important in every aspect of life. Taking the time to help someone to be the best they can is important.

[@lewisvandervalk7140]

Some really interesting points! Love the growth of Tedx talks!

[@JPATKAI]

Thank you for sharing your journey , Roxanne! You are an amazing woman! We all can relate to similar challenges, keep up the great work! We can are very proud of you!

[@cassiella2009]

I love hearing you speak; you are so inspirational. I am so thankful I met you this past March at TedxUNB. Thank you for sharing :)

[@brittanybrydon7192]

A great mentor and a great friend - thanks for sharing your story Roxanne

[@tommengel6791]

Excellent presentation, Roxanne. This is what authentic leadership looks like...inspiring!

[@alynneedmondson2635]

Very interesting talk, she made a number of points I had no considered. Definitely worth a watch!

[@SmallBlessingsHomestead]

Mentorships are an amazing opportunity for everyone involved. Great talk!

[@jennifercampbell3411]

Dr. Reeves was one of my professors at UNB. I enjoyed her talk and thought she made some great points.

[@amckillop71]

Eye opening and inspiring!

[@MrJoruge]

Amazing and magical speech. Many Thanks Dra Roxanne.

[@mickjefferies7863]

Such an inspiration in the classroom and outside! I had the incredible opportunity to learn from her at Renaissance College where she is an integrator

[@SocialMediaLove]

Very powerful talk, thank you Roxanne.

[@kristenadam6966]

Incredible talk!

[@amberrichards930]

Great tips on how to find a mentor!

[@cindygesner6199]

Not gonna lie...I don't normally watch the videos when requested, but when I realized who it was and knowing, Roxanne only by working with the Liberals in 2006-2010. Very interesting video. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It does take a lot of courage to open up about something like this and being married to someone that was in the public eye and having to meeting such a diverse amount of people would be very unnerving. Wonderful job, Roxanne.

[@kyliebullerwell251]

amazing ted talk!

[@hotchoco19]

Your story is incredible.

[@leeellenpottie1496]

It takes a ton of courage to get up in public and tell them that you have a learning disability or any kind of disability for that matter. Ms Reeves has courage and then some. She demonstrates that everyday when she goes out and talks to one more person about mentoring because she once had a good mentor. Sometimes you need cue cards and sometimes you don't. As a mentor, what Ms Reeves said about mentoring is true: Mentors can help you achieve the un-achievable and one of those things is believing in yourself when others don't. I also admire Ms Reeves tenacity and perseverance in all of her journeys.

[@littlejay42]

Truth. You must be so proud right now. :))

[@leeellenpottie1496]

Actually, I get chills when I consider how much Roxanne has accomplished - and remember the person who told me she couldn't. Couldn't learn. Couldn't teach. Couldn't. But she can and she does. I am proud of what she has achieved but I'm happier than you could possibly imagine: Roxanne proved to herself that she is intelligent, able to learn, able to teach, and darn good at all of it. I'm thrilled that she is able to talk about her achievements and encourage others to excel where they might not have been able to. I've had other "mentees" - all of whom were and are amazing. I'm only there as a guide - what they and Roxanne have accomplished is entirely their hard work. Good on her and good on them.

[@allisonpalmer9155]

Yes, mentoring is a gift

[@matthewzed4816]

Well done!

[@davidkean2891]

Not only was the presentation polished and flawless, but the message was so sincerely, and humbly communicated that I am certain it will motivate many who have been reluctant to ask for guidance from someone they respect and revere, to reach out. If you weren't inspired by this you likely have not experienced a life challenge which needed an influence beyond a supportive pier group and family.

[@adele23353]

Well done

[@aaronbanks3673]

Brilliant.

[@JoLoDoo1]

Powerful!

[@celine4980]

Nice!

[@kaisavalente1577]

Awesome

[@cathliaward1308]

An amazing message about the role mentors can play in all of our lives. There is so much wisdom to be found in this talk! The "accidental doctor" can teach us all a thing or two.

[@JenniferMawhinney]

Nice to see a New Brunswicker on TED.

[@matthewhachey1999]

Great talk, Roxanne's candour and commitment to diversity are commendable.

[@staceymcmullin4337]

Watched. Interesting.

[@LordTridus]

Interest

[@anarkydragon]

Done

[@stepha6793]

Nice

[@twotoneblue]

With our aging population here in NB and the number of people retiring mentorship is required and not an option. Without it we will fail.

[@joankingston5491]

Well done Roxanne:)

[@hdt1108]

Interesting

[@Cristina-ic3oi]

Cool

[@agentunknown99]

Mentors do make a difference.

[@zacksnanny]

NB liquor sent me her.

[@stephenalmon1298]

This presentation is one that needs to be seen be many different types of people, young people who can't find fulfilling work because they "don't know the right people", people who have been in a job a while and are feeling stagnant and need a new reason to get excited about work/life. The comment about white men almost always mentoring white men needs to be heard by white men, I have little confidence, even as a white man, that many will. Mentoring someone is fulfilling and eye-opening, being mentored is fulfilling and eye-opening. There are no losers in the process if it is done well at all. I will say I can't stand the word "mentee". I new word that has appeared. The people being mentored have been referred to throughout history as proteges. Now that's a great word. Mozart was not a mentee, he was a protege of Bach.

[@courtneywalton9871]

.

[@TheOfficialShelby]

Nb liquor sent me lol

[@Chris-ij8xb]

She doesn't know what she wants. Or she's finding it very difficult to pin point. Honestly her whole talk was a rather disjointed and an element of honesty and direction was completely missing. I could be being over critical though, I think she's affected a lot by the occasion and that uncertainty spills out in her talk; totally forgivable. The talk still fails to inspire or really explain anything concrete I find, others may find it truly inspirational.

[@user-iw5ow5lf4s]

She's got cards in her hand where she can cheat.I thought this performance was about TALK .

[@littlejay42]

TED, short for Technology, Education and Design, is about "ideas worth spreading", not necessarily the mode in which the talk is delivered. There are many diverse presentations. Lots of people have lots of ways to stay on track during a talk, and that's 100% okay. :)