This semester, I had the privilege of being a peer mentor for the College of Liberal Arts. I was assigned to assist around 15 sophomores who opted-in for mentoring help. My tasks for them were to complete three one-on-one meetings with me to be eligible for a scholarship at the end of the semester. Throughout the semester, I got to really know most of my mentees. I did experience some of the mentees not responding to me or dropping out of the program closer to the start. My bonds with my mentees grew stronger as time passed and I worked to make sure they knew of the ample amount of opportunities and resources present on campus. By the end of the semester, I was nominated for the Outstanding Peer Mentor Award by my mentees and earned it at the End of Semester Peer Mentor Party!
I noticed that there were some similarities in the problem areas my mentees wanted to work on. Most wanted some assistance in time/stress management while others just wanted to work on developing themselves professionally. As a result, I shared my personal knowledge of what helped manage my time, as I have a lot going on currently. Additionally, I made sure to send weekly emails to my mentees to give them a chance to have more professional events and skills for their resume. I also made sure to discuss future plans with my mentees, as a lot of them were unsure about where to go or what to do.
Overall, my experience with this program was outstanding. I met a variety of different people through my mentees and fellow mentors. I've built a few bonds that will last past this semester. I believe my greatest improvement is my social anxiety. I've always had problems with speaking to others and connecting more with people I didn't know. My professional skills have gotten stronger through constant interaction with my mentees and the other mentors. This program has allowed me to develop my resume more. However, as a result of this program, I feel as if I've become more comfortable with speaking to new people and getting to know them. There is always room for improvement, but I feel like I've gotten a good start so far. I really enjoyed my time in the program and I'm looking forward to continuing with the program next semester!
Hi Alexandra! I am so glad that you had such a great experience as a sophomore peer mentor, and I love how open and honest you were about your experience. It is also amazing how you were able to overcome your social anxiety and feel more comfortable talking with new people because that is something that I struggle with too. Coincidentally, I am also going to be a peer mentor for the College of Liberal Arts for freshmen in the fall, and it makes me excited for it because of the fact that you had such a great time as a peer mentor. The skills that you have gained from this experience will be extremely valuable on your resume, and I hope everything goes well for you next semester as a peer mentor!