Teacher, Model, Father: An Autoethnography of Long-Term Mentoring Between a Male Teacher and a Male Student

Abstract

This autoethnography offered an opportunity to have an open conversation to explore the nature of the long-term relationship with my mentor, Mr. Jiang, who has guided me to grow since I was a high school student. With confidence being a significant theme, our interaction has changed along with my growth from a boy to an independent adult man, a teacher, and now, a doctoral student. Feelings between us have been complicated and featured as puzzled, doubtful, hurt, happy, guilty, and moved. The nature of the relationship is challenging to define accurately, but it is similar to a father/son-like mutually beneficial mentoring relationship. Mr. Jiang grew as a teacher; I grew as a man. Thanks to this autoethnography, he said, “Sometimes it’s destiny that two people meet and recognize each other. I have had so many students but have only met one Si.”