As an incoming freshman it can be difficult to navigate your way through your new college or university campus. You can feel lost, confused and overwhelmed by a number of things.
If you’re coming down with a bad case of the freshman blues my best piece of advice to you is; branch out, cling on and find a good mentor.
According to the National Mentoring Partnership 1 out of 3 young people will grow up without a mentor. They also found that young adults at-risk of falling off track were 55 percent more likely to enroll in college, 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly, 90 percent more interested in becoming a mentor and 130 percent more likely to hold leadership positions by having a mentor.
Mentors Teach From Experience
When a mentor passes along knowledge it is usually because they have lived through the learning moment. Sheba Turk, co-anchor for the Eyewitness Morning News at channel 4 WWL New Orleans said she loves being a mentor because she’s able to pass down what she’s learned and make the journey easier for someone else.
Troy Vaughn, a rising senior at Bethune Cookman University said he loves having mentors because he’s able to follow in theirs footsteps and have the blueprint that will hopefully make him just as successful as they are.
Mentors Wear Many Hats
Any mentor or mentee can easily attest to the fact that mentors do not give advice on one specified topic. They are your go-to resources for any and everything you can think of. From careers to relationships, academics and everything in between, more often than not, your mentor will wear several hats.
“When it comes to decision-making, my mentor is the first person I go to for feedback,” said Tassion Lott-Minor, a rising junior at Dillard University.
If your mentor doesn’t wear that hat, I can guarantee you they know someone who does. Mentors open doors and have unlimited resources.
Mentors are Friends
Mentoring is not an all work and no play type of relationship. They start off as mentors, but become friends. President and Founder of C.A.P.R.E.C.I.A Cares Caprecia Miller said,
“Mentor/mentee relationships must be built on mutual trust and understanding to ensure a lifelong mentoring relationship.”
Go out to eat with you mentor, play cards, study, sky is the limit when it comes to a mentor/mentee bond.
There is No Right or Wrong When it Comes to Mentoring
Mentoring does not have to be practiced, planned or perfect. Mentoring is organic and often times happens by chance. Do not be afraid, ashamed or embarrassed to ask someone to be your mentor.
Tevon Blair, a rising junior at Dillard University said he believes mentoring is a learning experience for both the mentor and the mentee. There is no right or wrong way to be a mentor. Find someone and enjoy the experience.
Mentoring is the Gift that Keeps on Giving
and Jatori McDowell, a recent graduate of Dillard University. (BOTTOM) Tevon Blair, rising junior at Dillard University and Chadrick Hudson, a recent Dillard University Graduate.
It is simple; mentees become mentors.
As stated earlier having a mentor can make a person 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly and 90 percent more interested in becoming a mentor.
It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. If you have a genuine mentor you can only hope to pass that same gift along to another person.
“Once you have had a mentor you can just see something in a kid and it makes you want to approach them and be a mentor,” said Blair.
Now that you know the benefits, go find a mentor.
Ready for college but not sure what to expect, or even bring? Before you say goodbye to your parents and friends, check out this ultimate guide to surviving your first year in college, and in particular at the country’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). We created the #HBCUFreshmanBible to help build a bridge for students to make a successful transition from high school to black colleges, you can read more here.
