Wen
Medicine and Surgery MB BS
You don’t have to be an amazing student to become a Peer Mentor. You just need a willingness and desire to share your university experience and what you have learned with others.
Being a Peer Mentor
I applied to be Peer Mentor because I had a good experience with peer mentoring during my first year. I thought it was a good scheme that put us in contact with senior students who could share their student experience, something lecturers cannot do. I applied to be a Peer Mentor to share what I had learned and help new students settle in and adapt to university life.
As a Peer Mentor, I help answer queries my mentees have about university and our degree course and signpost them to the relevant source of support when they need help. I began the year by contacting my mentees and meeting with them. I shared my own experiences and answered their questions about the course. During the first semester, we keep in regular contact and I continue to provide support. I’ve sent my mentees resources to help with their studying and I’ve shared my experiences with exams and assignments and have given them feedback on how they can improve their study skills.
Peer Mentors share their experiences with their mentees. So, if you are wondering what your degree course is like, you can ask your Peer Mentor. If you have any questions, ask your Peer Mentor. While they cannot always solve your queries, they might be able to direct you to the relevant departments or people that can do so.
Benefits of being a Peer Mentor
As a Peer Mentor, I developed my communication skills. I put into practice the skill of sharing information and giving feedback to others. I also gained experience in getting to know other people and keeping in touch via various means, such as Zoom. My organisational and time management skills also improved as I learned to set time aside for events other than study.
It was completely unexpected when I found out that my mentees nominated me for Peer Mentor of the Year and I won! I’m grateful to my mentees for their kind comments and I’m so glad they found the experience useful. Winning this award has been an encouraging experience.
Being a Peer Mentor requires time, commitment, and a willingness to help others. However, it is so rewarding because you can help others and make a difference. You don’t have to be an amazing student to become a Peer Mentor. You just need a willingness and desire to share your university experience and what you have learned with your fellow students.