Daniel
MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
Being a mentor has helped me grow in ways that go beyond university life. It's given me a much better sense of empathy and understanding, especially when it comes to remembering what it felt like to be a new student.
Being a Peer Mentor
I'm currently in my fourth year of Mechanical Engineering, and I've spent the last 2 years as a Peer Mentor supporting new students as they settle into university life. My role is to be a friendly, approachable point of contact for new students, whether that means answering questions over email or catching up in person. I know first hand how big a step starting university can be, especially moving to a new place and taking on a challenging course, so I made sure my mentees know they can approach me about anything.
As their Peer Mentor, I offered my mentees a chance to speak to someone in a similar field to themselves, and made sure to meet and talk with them all. It was a great opportunity for everyone to ask any questions that might arise, and I really enjoyed being able to reassure them from my own experiences.
In the role of Senior Peer Mentor, my work focuses on being a liaison between other Peer Mentors and members of the academic team. This role builds on my experience as a Peer Mentor, allowing me to offer a relatable point of contact for those volunteering in the same position that I was in. With the experiences and training that I have received, I can offer support on dealing with mentees as well as helping with maintaining engagement within the scheme.
A big part of my role is promoting the engagement of both Peer Mentors and mentees, whether that be through meetings, drop-in sessions or lecture shout-outs. I have seen the benefits of having a Peer Mentor to relate to and would very much recommend the role to anyone who wants to develop their own interpersonal skills whilst having an active role in supporting others.
Benefits of being a Peer Mentor
Being a Peer Mentor has helped me grow in ways that go beyond university life. It's given me a much better sense of empathy and understanding, especially when it comes to putting myself in someone else's shoes and remembering what it felt like to be in their position during my own first year. I've also had the chance to interact with a real diverse mix of people, which has been great for building my confidence in talking to all sorts of groups of different sizes. On top of that, it's pushed me to think more critically, working out the best way to help each mentee with the different questions and situations they bring to me, and it shows a real commitment to something outside of my usual studies. I'd encourage anyone thinking about it to give it a go.