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If you are thinking of being a Peer Mentor, do it! It is an amazing experience to give back to people who are in the same boat that you were in not so long ago.

Being a Peer Mentor

I decided to become a Peer Mentor to help new students with the often tricky, yet exciting transition into university life. Knowing that when you start university there is someone there to assist you who has just been through the process themselves is an invaluable support system and I really wanted to be a part of that! I am also not the typical university student as I don’t drink alcohol so I wanted to put myself out there as a Peer Mentor to show anyone with the same background as me that you can still have a brilliant and successful university experience!

A Peer Mentor is one of the first ports of call when arriving at university, being there right from the beginning. You are there to answer any questions new students might have about university life, from where the library is to how to do a load of washing! As a Peer Mentor you may also signpost your mentees to your favourite spots of campus or in the city to ensure the settling in process runs as smoothly as possible!

Mentees can expect a warm and welcoming mentor who is passionate about university life and who wants to ensure that they have the best start to their university experience. They can also expect first-hand advice from someone who has just been through the process, so they know exactly how they’re feeling!

Benefits of being a Peer Mentor

I gained and developed my interpersonal skills with others and improved my leadership skills.  By arranging both formal and informal meetings, I also developed organisational skills and learned how to chair meetings, which was of great benefit to me. 

I was nominated as Peer Mentor of the year. It was an absolute joy to find out I was nominated by my mentees and probably the biggest thank you I could get for the work and time I put in helping them. I was enormously grateful.  

If you are thinking of being a Peer Mentor, do it! It is an amazing experience to give back to people who are in the same boat that you were in not so long ago. Do not let the thought of responsibility prevent you from helping your fellow students and the university community as a whole. Your job is mostly as a guide to the best resources and support available to your mentees, not being responsible for them or their first semester as students.