I am looking for someone to mentor me, to provide valuable insight and advice on possible career paths and direction I can take.
One of the things that every article about mentor-mentee relationship mentions is that its supposed to be mutually beneficial and when I ask the person to be my mentor, I mention why they should mentor me.
I understand the value that a mentor provides me but I don't see any possible value they can get from helping me out.
What value do you get from mentoring someone in my position ?
Don't think there will be a father figure software developer show up and take you under his wings. You are reading way too much internet articles regarding "my mentor thought me this, I owe him everything" etc. In real life it doesn't work that way, if you are really thinking of pursuing something to make a living or create something to improve the world, just focus on the subject and learn. Don't expect software development to be a BDSM type of relationship.