Tom
BA (Hons) Politics
Having had a good Peer Mentor in my own first year, I thought it was important to do the same in both my second and third years of study. I used what I had experienced to improve the transition of new students into university life.
Being a Peer Mentor
Having had a good Peer Mentor in my own first year, I thought it was important to do the same in both my second and third years of study. I used what I had experienced to improve the transition of new students into university life.
I held sessions in the first semester with a small group of first year students, introducing them to the university, the department and Newcastle itself. The tips and advice I shared in such sessions helped them to settle in and let them know what to expect from the first year of their course, as well as how to make the most of their time at the university (e.g. how to best use the library, attending staff office hours).
I also made my role clear; that I was available for them to ask questions that they might not feel confident, or comfortable, asking a lecturer. Using my knowledge and experience to either provide answers or signpost them to where the information could be attained. I wanted to make sure that my mentees felt comfortable talking to me, and that our interactions could be as formal or as informal as they liked.
We also often met as a group more informally, including for a coffee, crazy golf, and accompanying them to their politics society social! I helped a nice group of students early on in their university careers, who still keep in touch with one another. Catalysing these friendships at that moment in their lives was important as it is a time where many students may struggle to settle in a new city, away from home.
From their Peer Mentor, new students can expect a welcoming voice who they can ask questions of and feel comfortable talking to about issues that may seem too silly or too informal to ask a member of university staff. Peer mentors are there to help their mentees adjust into a new chapter of their life, allowing them to learn from their experiences and mistakes when they were in first year.
Benefits of being a Peer Mentor
Being a Peer Mentor has helped me to develop various transferable skills. I’ve developed organisational skills from taking the lead on planning meetings with a group of students with differing timetables and availabilities and my communications skills, both in person and online, answering questions and providing introductory advice, have also improved. I’ve also developed confidence in myself and speaking amongst new people. The whole experience helped build my confidence as every time we met as a group, I’d be looked to for ideas and advice.
I was nominated by my mentees for Peer Mentor of the Year. Being nominated was a great experience and something I’m really proud of. The awards night itself gave me and my group a good opportunity to celebrate how much they’d each grown in their first semester at Newcastle, as well as to reflect on how well we’d bonded as a group. Reading their feedback on how helpful I had been in multiple different ways was also really nice. The whole experience is a highlight of my time studying in Newcastle.
To anyone thinking of taking on the role of Peer Mentor, I say go for it! It can be a very rewarding experience and allows you to pass on knowledge from your experiences transitioning to university. Consider how helpful having a Peer Mentor answering your questions when you arrived in Newcastle could have been! Also, it’s a great opportunity to have fun and make friends across year groups. A lot of the time I spent with my groups was really enjoyable, especially the crazy golf!