A Mentor will usually be an experienced student who is able to work in a partnership with other students. Mentor applications are open to all students, even 1st year students, who demonstrate interest and ability to help others. Mentors should be willing to share their experience, be non-judgmental and supportive.
A Peer Mentor is:
- A person that helps ease the transition from high school to CNA
- A person that eases the transition of an international student in to Canada
- A person that guides students to resources and opportunities on campus
- A person that helps students develop and foster social networks
- A person that helps students network with people and possible employers in the community
A Peer Mentor is not:
- A tutor
- A counselor
- An academic advisor
- A parent
- A source of money
Adapted from Peer Mentor Handbook by The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania, n.d., p. 2 (Peer Mentoring Handbook). Copyright by The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Adapted with permission.
Anybody can be a Mentee. A Mentee is an equal partner in the peer mentoring relationship. A Mentee can be any student who would benefit from learning about another student’s experiences and how they overcame barriers.
Peer mentoring can have a profound impact on a mentee’s sense of self-worth. Peer mentoring can also provide mentors with several life-skills that they can carry with them through their educational and work experiences. Peer mentoring can create a positive relationship that is mutually beneficially to both mentor and mentee.
Benefits for the Mentor:
- You can build relationships with other students who have similar interests
- You can develop a deeper connection to the campus community
- You can develop your interpersonal relationship skills
- You can develop leadership skills
- You can develop communication skills
Benefits for the Mentee
- You can build relationships with other students who have similar interests
- You can develop a connection to the campus community
- You can develop a strong sense of self-efficacy
- You can feel more confident in social settings
- You can improve your overall academic performance
Adapted from Peer Mentor Handbook by The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania, n.d., p. 3 (Peer Mentoring Handbook). Copyright by The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Adapted with permission.
The Peer Mentoring program has many benefits. Mentors and mentees will work together on a variety of things such as creating and working towards goals, being a positive role model, improving self-esteem, strengthening connections to fellow students and the college, and developing interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
In many cases, Peer Mentors are the link between fostering relationships with peers and faculty, and creating an understanding of the demands of college and how to create goals to succeed. Along the way, the Peer Mentor may notice growth in themselves through increased confidence, improved self-esteem, and self-efficacy.
It is important to remember that the primary purpose of the Peer Mentoring program is to build a relationship that is has a strong foundation in trust and to be a supportive role model for your mentee.
When working with your mentee, it is important to allow them to create and have ownership of the goals they choose to work towards. As a mentor, your focus is to be the best mentor you can be – however, you can still have goals for yourself such as improving your listening skills or becoming more solutions oriented.
As a Peer Mentor, do expect:
- To provide a safe and confidential relationship
- To help develop relationships with faculty and staff mentors
- The relationship to be one-directional, at the start
- To experience change and be busy
- To experience some frustration along the way
- To support your mentee in reaching their goals
- To make a positive impact in your mentee’s life
As Peer Mentor, do not expect:
- To save or reform your mentee
- Your mentee to confide in you, or trust you, at the start
- Significant change quickly
- Your goals to be the same as your mentee’s
- You will automatically be best friends, friendships take time to develop
- Your mentee to plan meetings
- To know what type of impact you may have made
Adapted from Peer Mentor Handbook by The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania, n.d., p. 4 (Peer Mentoring Handbook). Copyright by The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Adapted with permission.
