Attitude in Action - Feature Mentor Dan Soovajian
Dan Soovajian is the kind of person you can really count on to do what he says he will do: the time he decided to complete his first marathon, for example. Unfortunately, he got injured halfway through training, so by the time it was race day, he was not nearly as prepared as he should have been. It was a really rough race, but he finished it! That’s just who he is.
He decided to become a Great Life mentor because it felt to him like the best way to make an impact in someone's life - by staying in touch over an extended period of time and sharing in their ups and downs. That was more than a year ago and now, and not only is he still mentoring, he’s President of the Great Life Mentoring Board of Directors as well. He is particularly happy to bring useful skills and helpful perspectives to the board so the program can continue to expand its reach and serve more children in our community.
Dan brings value to both positions. He works as a Project Manager, so his results-oriented, methodical and organizational skills are a perfect fit for the board. And his ability to be thoughtful, caring and goofy benefit him as a mentor. Dan is also an effective communicator and able to motivate others, which benefit him in both areas.
This man of many talents really believes that who we become is defined in large part by the people we most often associate with. Dan tells us, “I’ve been lucky enough to have some wonderful people shape who I became, and I think that mentoring offers a similar kind of opportunity. Being a stable, positive influence during someone's otherwise challenging time just seems like the most effective way to help someone and improve their chances of living a happy, fulfilling life.” He continued, “I wouldn't say I have any particularly unusual skills or talents. I think that just being a level-headed, normal person can go a long way.”
Dan really enjoys his role as a Great Life mentor and says he admires the adventurous nature of his friend in particular. He tells us that his friend pushes himself outside of his comfort zone to try new activities. He also says his friend is very thoughtful. Sometimes the two of them do cooking projects, and whenever they do, his friend always thinks about what his family likes to eat so that he can take home food they would enjoy.
He lives by Henry Ford’s statement, ”Whether you think you can, or think you can't - you're right.”
Personally, Dan is passionate about helping people and finding ways to make them happy. Professionally, he’s passionate about delivering results that improve the lives of customers or participants. Either way, what Dan Soovajian brings to the table enhances the lives of those around him - He thought he could, and so he did.
Thank you, Dan Soovajian!
For more information on how you can use your talents to enrich the live of children in your community, for mentoring in Vancouver WA and mentoring in Portland OR contact Great Life Mentoring or apply now to become a mentor!