Mentorship and Guidance 101: Navigating College with Mentors by Your Side
As cliche as it sounds, college is one of the most exciting and transformative times in your life. Where else will you be able to begin to adult for the first time in your life, while making friends and unforgettable memories along the way? One of the ways that college can really transform you is mentorship and guidance. As someone who was fortunate enough to gain a couple of mentors in college early on, mentorship is about more than just having a mentor; it’s about forming meaningful connections with professors and upperclassmen who can help you navigate the complexities of college life. Mentorship, at its core, is a relationship between a mentor and a mentee. It’s a partnership built on trust, guidance, and support.
Even before setting foot on campus, I found a network of support and guidance. My academic advisor, Megan, guided me through a major switch and clarified the necessary NUpaths (electives) for my engineering program. As an upperclassman now, she continues to advise and encourage me throughout my academic journey. Joining a research lab as a freshman, I found guidance from my professor, Mat, has also been so instrumental in guiding me academically and personally. It was him who initially encouraged me to switch majors when I expressed how unsure I was about my previous major. I can now turn to Mat for anything- career paths, life goals, or even just restaurant recommendations.
While moving onto campus, I met Thao-Vy, an upperclassman who introduced me to the Asian American Community on campus, and eventually helped me become a Husky Ambassador! Although she’s on co-op on the west coast now, she and I still keep in touch, and I am grateful for the helping hand she gave me as I came to Northeastern for the first time. Thao-Vy encouraged me to apply to the Asian American Students in Action Program, an initiative run by the Asian American Center on campus to pair first year or transfer Asian and Asian American students with upperclassmen mentors. It was through this program that I met Kirby, who is one of my closest confidants and who has guided me through friends, clubs, and life as a college student. I was only a week into college, and already I had been able to find so many people who whom I could turn to no matter how big or small a problem was.
Having experienced the benefits of mentorship firsthand, I offer these tips for seeking guidance in college:
Initiate the Connection: Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors and upperclassmen! Attend office hours, ask questions, and express your interest in their subject or field. Building a mentorship relationship often begins with a simple conversation.
Be Respectful and Appreciative: Respect your mentor’s time and expertise. Show appreciation for their guidance and let them know how their mentorship has made a difference in your college journey.
Set Clear Goals: Discuss your academic and career goals, or personal goals with your mentor! Having a clear understanding of what you hope to achieve will help your mentor provide more useful guidance for you.
Be Open to Feedback: Constructive criticism is a crucial part of mentorship. Be open to feedback and use it as an opportunity to grow.
Mentorship and guidance are invaluable assets during your college years. They can transform your academic and personal growth, connect you to opportunities, and provide a source of inspiration and motivation. Don’t underestimate the power of forming close bonds with professors and upperclassmen! College fosters connections that can greatly impact the rest of your life – don’t wait to find your mentors!