McKenzie Campbell
Staff Writer
Newsflash: college is hard. There’s no point in sugarcoating this fact. It’s an investment that helps people across the globe figure out their passion and the future they wish to pursue.
Naturally, for some, college could end up being difficult to navigate, especially for first-year and transfer students.
For instance, I was once a transfer student, roaming the halls and expansive campus of UNCG. I was unsure of where to start when it came to making friends and seeking guidance when I needed it most.
Luckily, UNCG is here to make the transition a bit easier by partnering with Mentor Collective, an initiative created so that current and previous students of various institutions can come together to give advice, insight and support to the universities’ newly enrolled scholars.
Founded in 2014 by Jackson Boyar and James Lu Morrissey in Boston, Massachusetts, the original intention of this initiative was to offer support for international students. Boyar and Morrissey decided overtime that they wanted to be more inclusive in their outreach. Now, they have partnered with 80 universities in all parts of the nation. Their goal is to connect students to other peers who have experienced similar life events, share the same hobbies or are pursuing the same major.
The Mentor Collective Mission states:
“Relationships shape the experience and outcomes of a student’s journey through higher education. Some students will find these relationships among faculty and advisors; however, many more will struggle to forge the long-lasting relationships that drive student success and open doors. At Mentor Collective, we seek to make life-changing relationships a feature of every student’s college experience. To realize this vision, we partner with forward-thinking institutions that are committed to equity, inclusion, and relationship-centered education.”
Ideally, the mentorship program can be conducted remotely to fit students’ needs. Mentors can speak with their mentees via Zoom, phone and chat boxes while also having the chance to meet in person if needed. For the mentor, this provides a leadership opportunity, and for the mentee, this is a way to network. Studies have shown that “college graduates are almost two times more likely to be engaged at work if they [have] a mentor who [encourages] them to pursue their goals and dreams.”
The process of becoming a mentor is also simple. All you need to do is contact Mentor Collective directly by going to their website and finding their information under “Contact.” From there, you’ll complete a short orientation to obtain a mentor certification that you can even post to your LinkedIn and use on your resume. It’s a win-win for both parties!
Nobody is an expert at life. It pays to find resources that will help better your future. For more information about how to become a mentor and/or mentee, visit https://www.mentorcollective.org/.
Sources: https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/college-mentor-student-success/
THE CAROLINIAN 
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