A mentor is an individual who advises and challenges you to do your best on both a personal and professional level. Everyone needs a mentor. As a child, your parents, grandparents or someone close filled that role. When you entered VMI, your upperclassmen, professors and perhaps an alumni or two filled that role. When you graduate and move into your life's work, someone within the organization will likely fill that role.
Mentors come in all shapes and sizes, and they come from all walks of life.
The quality of mentors differs, so it's important to choose your mentors wisely. I have mentors I call upon. The first duty of a leader is to grow more leaders and one way to do that is through mentoring. Mentoring is an act of giving. It's about service before self.