Lily Tibbitts’ Student Life #148
For the new academic year, I’ve signed up to be a peer mentor, which is slightly terrifying.
Being a peer mentor involves looking after a group of first year students, giving them advice when they need it and generally supporting their transition to university wherever possible.
But helping all of these first years when I still feel like I only just got to university myself seems a bit like the blind leading the blind – what useful advice do I have to offer when I still see myself as just as much of a new student? In reality, though, it’s been two years. I’m going into my final year when I feel like university has only just begun.
Maybe being a peer mentor is just about having someone who’s done it all already, even if I don’t feel experienced or like I have all the answers, or being someone who will listen to their worries and reassure them that they’re not alone with them.
After all, being in third year is hard, but being a fresher is harder.
I might not feel ready to be supporting new students, but as long as I can help them feel welcome and listened to then I’ll be happy. Watching new people thrive at the start of their journeys while I’m finishing mine is definitely something to look forward to, not fear.
Lily
