How to Say “Thank You” to a Mentor (With Examples)

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Plus, our top tips for expressing gratitude with sincerity
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A mentor is someone who guides you through an important phase in your life, teaches you, and helps you achieve your goals. Whether you want to appreciate a person who helped and advised you in school, in your professional career, or in life in general, we'll help you find the right words to say. In this article, we’ll explore 50 ways to thank you mentor, including professional , funny , and inspiring messages . We’ll also provide an email template for a longer message, share writing tips, and explain when to thank your mentor.

Best "Thank You Mentor" Phrases

  • I'm deeply grateful for your mentorship.
  • Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me.
  • I sincerely appreciate your willingness to take me on as your mentee.
  • Thank you for guiding me along my career path.
  • I'll never forget your hard work and dedication to mentoring me.
  • I'm forever grateful for the wisdom you shared with me during our time together.
  • Your mentorship has been one of the greatest blessings of my professional career.
Section 1 of 8:

Professional Thank You Notes for Mentors

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  1. Everyone's relationship with their mentor is different. You may be able to laugh and joke with them, or you may think it's more respectful to stay professional, even when you're thanking them. In the latter case, write your note like you're writing a business letter . Keep your message straightforward and polite, and avoid flowery language. Here are some examples: [1]
    • "Thank you for being my mentor. I greatly appreciate all the guidance you've given me in the time we've known each other. Your insights have and will continue to be invaluable to my success."
    • "Thank you for mentoring me and driving me to succeed. I'll always remember the advice you've given me and strive to live up to your example of excellence."
    • "I'm deeply grateful for your wisdom and experience. It's been a privilege to be your mentee."
    • "I couldn't have chosen a better mentor. Your wisdom and knowledge of the industry have prepared me more than anything else for what lies ahead."
    • "Thank you for your interest in the growth of my career. I'm confident you won't be disappointed by the results of your tireless efforts."
    • "I appreciate all the help you've given me. I can truly say that I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for your kindness and perseverance in mentoring me."
    • "Thank you for all the hard work you put into helping me achieve my goals. I'll treasure your lessons and advice forever."
    • "I'm immensely grateful for the support and encouragement you've shown me on the road to realizing my aspirations."
    • "Being under your tutelage has been one of the highlights of my professional career, and I'm grateful for it every day."
    • "Thank you for making my time as your mentee both useful and pleasant. Your invaluable insight will guide my path forward toward success."
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Section 2 of 8:

Short Thank You Phrases for Mentors

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  1. Make your thank-you note short and sweet, but still meaningful. Sadly, we don't always have a lot of time to compose a long letter or email to thank someone, even when they’re a mentor. In these situations, having a short thank-you phrase ready to go is key. Even more important, make sure that even though you're unable to take much time for expressing your gratitude, your message still feels sincere, like the example phrases below:
    • "I'm deeply grateful for your mentorship."
    • "Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me."
    • "I sincerely appreciate your willingness to take me on as your mentee."
    • "Thank you for guiding me along my career path."
    • "I'll never forget your hard work and dedication to mentoring me."
    • "I'm forever grateful for the wisdom you shared with me during our time together."
    • "Your mentorship has been one of the greatest blessings of my professional career."
    • "Thank you for taking me under your wing."
    • "You're my inspiration and a key figure in my success story."
    • "Thanks for mentoring me and helping me find my way."
Section 3 of 8:

Inspiring Thank You Notes for Mentors

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  1. As you're composing your thank-you note to your mentor, consider what they mean to you. What qualities have they displayed that have inspired you, personally and professionally? How have they made you want to improve your skills and become a better version of yourself? Use your answers to better express the depths of your gratitude. [2]
    • "Thank you for inspiring me and setting me on the path to achieving my dreams."
    • "Your encouragement and experience inspire me to never give up."
    • "I admire your dedication to your profession, and I hope to one day possess even a fraction of your wisdom."
    • "I'll always strive to live up to the example you set for me as my mentor."
    • "I couldn't have asked for a better, more inspiring teacher. Thank you for always pushing me to carve my own path."
    • "I hope to one day be as effective and kind a mentor for someone else as you were for me."
    • "Thank you for being a remarkable mentor. You'll always be my inspiration."
    • "I'm in awe of the professionalism, talent, and experience you've shared with me as my mentor. It's those qualities that inspire me to strive for my own greatness."
    • "You've made a significant difference in my life. Your mentorship has inspired me to reach for goals I didn't know were possible."
    • "Learning from you has been the most inspirational experience of my life so far. Thank you for making it happen."
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Section 4 of 8:

Funny Thank You Messages for Mentors

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  1. Make your mentor laugh with a hilarious thank you message. Do you and your mentor have a friendly rapport and enjoy trading jokes back and forth? If so, make them laugh and cry at the same time with a thank-you note that's straight from the heart and your funny bone.
    • "Thank you for being my personal Google and answering all my annoying questions. You are truly the best mentor I could ever have asked for."
    • "I owe you about a million coffees for all the mentoring advice you gave me. Thank you."
    • "Thank you for being my favorite mentor. I know I'll always be your favorite mentee, right? Right?!"
    • "You've been so good at guiding my life, you might as well be the GPS in my car and guide me wherever I go."
    • "You may not be small and green, but you're as wise as Yoda in my eyes. Thank you for mentoring me."
    • "If mentoring me were a sport, you'd be just as exhausted, but you'd also have a great big trophy that says 'Best Mentor in the World.'"
    • "I don't know which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle I would be, but I do know that you would be the amazing mutant ninja rat who teaches me martial arts."
    • "I appreciate every nugget of wisdom you've ever dropped while mentoring me (though to be honest, I prefer gold)."
    • "Yer a wizard (at mentoring)."
    • "Oh, oh, I don't know about you / but I'm feelin' grateful to you. Thank you for being my mentor (and fellow Swiftie)!"
Section 5 of 8:

Quotes About Mentorship

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  1. Listen, we're not all writers or poets here. But the good news is, plenty of amazing actors, authors, characters, and other famous figures knew exactly what to say about mentors and put it out there for all the world to hear and read. So use their words (with the proper attribution, of course) in your thank-you note to show your mentor how grateful you are.
    • "I am not a teacher, but an awakener." – Robert Frost
    • "The mediocre leader tells. The good leader explains. The superior leader demonstrates. The great leader inspires." – William Arthur Ward
    • "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." – Benjamin Franklin
    • "Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow." – Padme Amidala, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
    • "A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself." – Oprah Winfrey
    • "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou
    • "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." – Isaac Newton
    • "We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives." – John F. Kennedy
    • "We are what they grow beyond." – Yoda, Star Wars Episode VII: The Last Jedi
    • "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." – John Crosby
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Section 6 of 8:

Thank You Email Template

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  1. Subject line: Thank You

    Dear [Mentor's Name],

    I'm writing to thank you sincerely for being my mentor and for all the guidance you've given me. [Add 1-2 sentences describing the context and reason for writing the thank-you note at this time.]

    One moment I'm particularly grateful for from your mentorship is [2-3 sentences describing a specific moment with your mentor that inspired or influenced you]. I'll always hold that memory close.

    Thank you once again for all your advice, encouragement, and support. With your lessons, I feel more confident than ever going forward and meeting the future.

    I'll be sure to keep in touch and update you on my progress.

    Warmest regards,
    [Your Name]
Section 7 of 8:

How to Write a Thank You Note to Your Mentor

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  1. 1
    Put your thank-you note in context. Explain to your mentor why you're thanking them and what prompted you to do so at this particular time. You may, for example, be graduating from college or moving on to a new job, thanks to their help. Mention the impact they've had on your life or career, and how you've grown and changed (for the better) because of their advice. [3]
  2. 2
    Give examples of ways they've inspired or influenced you. If possible, name at least 1-2 instances in which your mentor said or did something that profoundly affected you. Maybe they gave you a piece of career advice that changed your perspective, or maybe they taught you the proper way to make a resume . Whatever it was, being specific will make your note more meaningful. [4]
    EXPERT TIP

    Eden Gold

    Youth Motivational Speaker and Teen Life Coach
    Eden Gold is a nationally recognized youth motivational speaker, podcast host, and founder of Life After High School, an education company equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in adulthood. Based in Oregon, Eden serves middle school, high school, and college-aged students across the country through high-impact keynotes, workshops, and digital programs that bridge the gap between what’s taught in school and what’s required in life. Her signature program, Life After High School, helps students master success planning, financial literacy, mental wellness, communication skills, personal growth, and career readiness. In 2025, Eden launched The Unshakable You Tour, a nationwide initiative with a mission to help 1 million students build unshakable self-confidence and develop the skills to lead their lives with intention, direction, and purpose. She is also the host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast, where she interviews industry leaders and young adults navigating adulthood in real-time.
    Eden Gold
    Youth Motivational Speaker and Teen Life Coach

    Let them know how their advice changed your life. Tell your mentor how they impacted you. If you want, offer to do something for them. But honestly, what mentors really want is to know their guidance mattered and that you applied it. That's the best thank-you of all.

  3. 3
    Express your gratitude with sincerity. To make your thank-you note sound sincere, focus on your real feelings toward your mentor and choose your words with care. If they inspired you, say that (but if they didn't, don't say they did). If you believe they guided you toward your goals, write that down. Additionally, avoid fake compliments like, "You are the greatest mentor in the world and no one can compare to your wisdom." This might make you sound like a flatterer who's trying to curry favor. [5]
  4. 4
    Remember to send it. Too often, we get caught up in our busy lives and neglect to thank the mentors who encouraged, inspired, and helped us along the way. Set a reminder on your phone so you don't forget to send off your thank-you note, email, or text. If you still have trouble remembering, you can always pick up the phone or visit their office and thank them in person.
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Section 8 of 8:

When to Give a Thank You Note to Your Mentor

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  1. Technically, you can write your mentor a thank-you message anytime you feel like it. But traditionally, thank-you notes are given on special days set aside for appreciating mentors. You can also use them to commemorate reaching a milestone, like graduating from college or getting promoted, or to celebrate your mentorship anniversary. Another good reason to thank your mentor is when you know your relationship is coming to a close. [6]

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      References

      1. ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/different-genres/writing-business-letters
      2. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/07/24/7-powerful-traits-of-people-who-inspire-others-to-become-their-best/
      3. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/11/how-to-write-a-meaningful-thank-you-note
      4. ↑ https://hk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/thank-you-letter-to-mentor
      5. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/11/how-to-write-a-meaningful-thank-you-note
      6. ↑ https://hk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/thank-you-letter-to-mentor

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