Mentoring is a vital part of the field of interpreting. Compared to many other vocations, interpreting is new, therefore the process of determining what is adequate education for interpreters is still being discovered. On an individual level this journey of education is an ongoing quest. Interpreters function in a wide variety of settings, and it is impossible for one educational program to foresee all possibilities and prepare students for every likelihood. It is for these reasons that mentoring fills a need. By taking on the responsibility of mentoring, interpreters share their unique experiences with others. By seeking out mentors, interpreters take responsibility for their own educational process and the field as a whole is made better as we all strive for excellence.