Connect
← Return to Mentor Teleconference - October 30, 2018 | 5pm CT
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Hi @retiredteacher @debbraw @contentandwell,
I've been remiss in welcoming you, and although we "met" briefly during the Mentor Teleconference, I just wanted to say that I'm so very happy to welcome you as Mentors.
I know for sure that, as you settle into your role, you will soon see that you don’t have to have mastered everything before you have something valuable to offer. All you need is you. As moderator, I've had the privilege to learn from this wonderful team that when you share what you know, you are helping others find what works for them – and you'll realize that you're adding a lot of value by just being you.
@retiredteacher, as the saying goes, "One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man."...or woman:)
I can see the you are already a great source of support and advice, and really, all you need to do is continue to use your experiences to guide the community productively and compassionately. Alongside all the support available to you, I want to reassure you that you will quickly overcome any problems you may be experiencing.
Welcome to the Connect family – or as they say down South – later y'all!
Replies to "Hi @retiredteacher @debbraw @contentandwell, I've been remiss in welcoming you, and although we "met" briefly during..."
@kanaazpereira Thank you for the lovely welcome. For some reason I feel more pressure now than I did when I was just a responder, but I will try to be a source of reassurance, and when possible of some information -- of course with the caveat that the healthcare provider should be contacted about any questions.
JK
Hi @kanaazpereira - Thank you so much for the kind words and warm welcome. I'm happy to be part of this community and excited to be learning more next week when I attend the social media conference and get to meet @colleenyoung! Will you be there? If so, I want to make sure to connect.
Connect
@kanaazpereira,
Thank you so much for the welcome. The Teleconference was interesting because I've never done that before. I had done conference calls when I was teaching, but not with as many people. I tried to listen to people and comment, but I didn't associate everyone's voice with a face.
I found the Mayo Connect site when I was diagnosed as a Diabetic 2 and had no idea. I had no symptoms, never thought about it as I have been healthy almost all of my life. I was never sickly, so to get a letter from my PCP saying, "You are a diabetic." was a shock. She had little to no information so I started researching on my own (That's what a teacher would do.) I spent hours and hours on the computer and ordered books to read, and had my husband researching too. We compiled a mass of information trying to understand what Diabetes meant. Through the search, I found Mayo Clinic Connect. I accessed the site and received help and got answers to my questions. I joined in 2017 and have been involved since. I was so mad and upset when I was first diagnosed that I was really out of control. The people on Mayo Connect helped me slowly, very slowly, calm down and begin to undersatnd. I still am mad that I have this disease, but I know it could be worse.
To my surprise, Colleen asked me to consider being a Volunteer Mentor. I thought if I could help anyone navigate through the unknowns of Diabetes, it would be a good thing to do. So I agreed, and since then I have not been navigating so well through all of the computer requirements. Computer use in teaching is not the same as on Connect. So I am trying to understand things I have no idea about. I get frustrated and stop. Later I try again. I love the quote; it definitely is on point.
Thanks for your gracious "hello."
I look forward to being a part of Mayo Connect as a patient and as a Volunteer Mentor.
@retiredteacher