I feel we're not exposed much to that kind of positive behaviour while growing up. Busier and busier parents and grandparents, overwhelmed teachers, goal-oriented sports coaches. I can locate a few forks-in-the-road in my formative years, and they have to do with someone noticing I was hurting and being a little shit not to hurt others but out of despair, boredom, frustration, etc. and taking the time and energy to steer me towards creating, investing in doing rather than thinking (high school librarians), or to make me think on myself and what I was bringing to the teacher/student relation (later high school librarian) and helping prepare me for university.

I just feel it's almost impossible to learn mentoring and 'giving back' when you haven't been either the target of it, or been witness to it.