Alex
BSc (Hons) Agriculture
Being a Peer Mentor is a worthwhile experience which broadens your knowledge and understanding of people from different backgrounds, who may even become your friends.
Being a Peer Mentor
I became a Peer Mentor because my personal experience with my Peer Mentor in my first year was not what I expected. Therefore, I wanted to provide the support and information that I lacked during my first year to the current first year students to make sure their experience in the first year of their studies was as enjoyable and useful as it can be.
As a Peer Mentor, my role was to provide information, support, and guidance for first year students. I did this through one-on-one meetings, chatting whenever I saw my mentees around the campus or during social events or cooperating with other Peer Mentors to host a short workshop to help our mentees with their first assignment. A mentee can expect to gain a contact in the year above who can give guidance and advice from their own personal experience about the challenges they themselves have faced when they were in their mentee’s shoes.
Benefits of being a Peer Mentor
As a Peer Mentor, I have developed greater organisational and forward planning skills, a greater understanding and appreciation of personal backgrounds and their impact on the experience of a student and I have improved my communication skills.
I would recommend the role to anyone thinking about becoming a Peer Mentor. Although this role is not for everyone, it is a worthwhile experience which broadens your knowledge and understanding of different people from different backgrounds, who may even become your friends.
It was amazing and totally unexpected to be nominated and win SAgE Peer Mentor of the Year! It was great to see my efforts recognised on a public stage like that and seeing the comments my mentees wrote about me motivated me to keep trying to make a positive impact on people’s lives.