Student Peer Mentoring

This week, inspired by terrific work by Mirya Holman, I want to talk just a little bit about peer mentoring. Often when we think about mentors we think about older, wiser people who will guide us. But peer mentors are incredibly important for undergraduate and graduate students as well. You can be a mentor yourself, and find a mentor among people you already know. Perhaps it sounds silly to you to even talk about peer mentors when you're in college. Let me assure that it is not. 

So, why peer mentors? 

• Your fellow college students are going through exactly the same things you are. They share common experiences with you, and can give you advice or commiseration in real-time. 
• Your professors and advisors are likely already overburdened and may not be able to meet with you or respond to your emails as quickly as you would like. 
• It makes your college experience less lonely. 
• The college experience has changed drastically over the last 10-15 years, so your professors may not fully understand their student's lives. 
• It makes other people's lives less lonely / difficult. 
• No one person can be everything to everyone or know all the answers. Having multiple peer mentors can distribute the load, and give you the best support from the best people. 
• Peer mentoring builds community 
• It makes you a better person. 

So how can you help your fellow college students? What kinds of peer mentors should you find? Here are a few simple ways you can help other people, and things you can ask for help with yourself: 

• Feedback: You can provide feedback to other students on their research papers, essays, or task management / organization systems. 
• Hype: You can nominate your peers and friends for scholarships or awards. Amplify the people who deserve it! 
• Accountability: Help keep other people on track (and ask them to keep you on track as well). For example, I have a friend with whom I often text goals - we text each other our goals for the day, check in at lunch, then assess how we did at the end of the work day. 
• Check-in: Just check in on someone who might be having a hard time. Ask them how they're doing, show up with a coffee, and offer a listening ear. 
• "No, that shit is real": Confirm / support if someone has a terrible experience, gets talked down to, has a racist / sexist / homophobic experience, and especially if they're being gaslighted. 
• Hidden knowledge: In college there is often a "hidden curriculum." These are aspects of college like the norms, values, and expectations that are not explicitly stated, but which are required to succeed. Can you tell someone what is really going on? What they really need to know to succeed? Where to access tools and resources they might not know about? 
• "It happened to me too": Can you help someone feel less alone and like their experiences are valid? 
• Cheerleader: Can you reassure someone that they are doing a good job? Remind them that they can do hard things! 
• Reality check: Can you make sure someone is grounded and is doing what they need to do? 

If this post rings as true and important to you, then go find your people and get to work!