Every student entering a career-conscious phase needs a mentor. The mentors not only help you make the right decisions but also guide you in making the most out of your college life. Most students often turn to highly-experienced people, such as professors or college advisors.
But recently, there has been a new trend — peer mentoring. It does sound a little offbeat, but it is actually helping many students sail through the obstacles of college life and the decision-making phase effectively.
What Is Peer Mentoring?
Mentoring is when a senior, experienced person guides you through something. In recent years, educational institutions have been assigning senior students as mentors to new students, and it is called peer mentoring.
Recent research found that mentees felt more connected to the university and had comparatively active student life when assigned to peer mentors. This is because students feel more comfortable with fellow students rather than a professor or a person above them in a hierarchical system.
Peer mentoring allows them to freely discuss their problems and get insights into student life from a perspective similar to their own. Senior students have discovered paper writing platforms, like domyessay.com, for assignments that new students may not yet know about. So, peer mentoring makes it easy for new students to learn about the simple hacks of college life.
Besides, peer-to-peer mentoring has several benefits for both the mentees and the mentors. From American History for teens to algebra to plain counseling sessions, peer mentoring helps many students in both high school and college.
Why Is It Gaining Momentum?
Experts have been stressing the importance and effectiveness of peer mentoring in an academic environment. In fact, this kind of mentoring benefits both the mentors and mentees.
Even though there is not much difference in the skillsets, the idea is to build a community of students with similar goals. And clearly, one party is more knowledgeable and experienced than the other.
They have also been handling college challenges and know more ways to deal with homework and tests. So, they can guide juniors to a reliable paper writing service like paperwritingservice.com to complete assignments on time without putting their studies in the back seat.
The benefits of peer mentoring are:
It Helps Students Settle Down Faster
Starting a university life isn’t easy for many. Most students relocate far away from their homes, and the new environment can feel lonely and demanding. Add to it the academic pressure, and student life starts to look extremely stressful.
However, having a peer mentor helps relieve some of this stress. Since they have already gone through these situations, they can guide the new students. Peer mentors can advise their mentees on everything, whether hanging out with friends or finding places to study.
As the mentors are also students, they are more approachable and friendly. Mentees feel less hesitant to talk to peer mentors when compared to teachers and advisers.
It Improves Student Engagement
Both peer mentors and mentees become engaged learners as they understand the importance of education. According to reports, 52% of students are less likely to skip school, and 37% are less likely to skip class when working with a mentor.
Peer mentoring is not only a guidance system but a place for meaningful connections. The bonds formed with mentors increase accountability as students learn from their experiences. Moreover, as the guidance comes from students who have lived through the exact situations, the advice is more likely to be effective.
It Creates a Stable Student Network
The connections among students in a peer-to-peer mentoring system help create a strong student network. Every student is assigned another senior student as a mentor. And the senior mentors also work with each other closely. So, the unity among them goes beyond studies and classrooms.
When needed, the mentoring network can act as a student body and address issues among their peers. They can also be a medium between educators and students, as approaching professors through mentors is easier.
It Ensures the Overall Well-Being of Students
Though peer mentors are meant to guide students in their studies, their mentees can easily reach out to them for any issues. Most peer mentors and their mentees share an informal, friendly bond, which means mentees can share anything from their personal and academic lives.
They also understand the stress of studies, exams, and social life. They can guide their mentees to perform better while not taking too much pressure. If any student is overwhelmed or stressed, mentors can act as a listening ear or direct them to the appropriate professional.
This is especially helpful for students who feel lonely or anxious in a new environment. In addition, students who deal with various mental health issues, such as test anxiety, depression, or imposter syndrome, can feel better through peer mentoring systems.
It Improves Soft Skills
Students who become peer mentors are in an authoritative leadership position. Besides, the task of guiding new students and making them feel comfortable helps develop several interpersonal skills.
Peer mentors gain communication and leadership skills during their mentorship. They also learn teamwork and problem-solving skills whenever they help their mentees. Moreover, their mentoring stint will also be a highlight in their resume. These soft skills are sought after by employers.
Make the Best Use of Peer Mentoring
If you wish to participate as a mentor or are a new student looking for a guide, the first step is to go through the university’s mentorship programs. Most universities have an easy application process and are accommodative of their students’ requirements.
However, not every educational institution has a mentorship program. In such a case, students can form their own informal peer mentoring system. Then, with fellow classmates and seniors, they can build a system where they benefit from the experience of others.