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Aleks

BA (Hons) Architecture

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As a Peer Mentor you could have a really positive impact on the start of someone’s time at university. Think about everything you would have wanted to know at the start of your experience, and then relay that to new students.

Being a Peer Mentor

I became a Peer Mentor because I felt that my first-year experience would have been even better if I had someone that I could ask all the little questions I had, especially those specific to my course. There are loads of great tutors and staff around for support, but sometimes it’s nice to speak to someone who was standing in your shoes just a year or two ago.

As a Peer Mentor, I show students around our buildings at the start of the year. I answer any questions they have and support them with any queries or concerns. If necessary, I lead them to University resources that are equipped to help them with more complex issues. I also reach out to check up on them a few times a year and give them a list of my favourite places to check out in the city.

From their Peer Mentor, a mentee can expect to speak to a student who started in a similar position to them, someone who they can ask the ‘silly’ questions to and reach out to if they need support or aren’t sure where to go.

Benefits of being a Peer Mentor

I would say that the main transferable skills I have developed during my time as a Peer Mentor are leadership and communication skills. You have to take on responsibility and be pro-active in the role thus giving you leadership skills. Working alongside other Peer Mentors and supporting each other in the role, also developed my teamwork skills.

To anyone thinking of becoming a Peer Mentor, I say do it! You could have a really positive impact on the start of someone’s time at university. Think about everything you would have wanted to know at the start of your experience, and then relay that to new students.