So it's nice to know once in a while that just by being there and listening to someone can, not only make all the difference to the whole university experience for some, but it can also be just what they need emotionally too.
We all get confidence wobbles sometimes, especially when one feels that there is nothing more that can be done to give someone the support and guidance that they really need.
Today somebody tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around to see a face that I had not seen since the beginning of the autumn term. It was a lady that I had spoken to several times over the summer when I was doing my telephone work, welcoming new students to UWN, finding out if they had any queries and how these could be best resolved etc. Any way, this lady had serious concerns before she started her course. She had concerns whether she could fit uni around her small children, there were cultural and religious issues that were playing on her mind, and basically she lacked confidence. I spent a lot of time in late August / early September, and during her induction week reassuring her that no matter what there was always someone that could offer her support. I put her in touch with a tutor that I felt may empathise with her and offer a greater source of professional support than I. Additionally I didn't sugar coat the university experience she was about to undertake, I told her (and other students) that what she was about to do will be intense and a steep learning curve. I felt that she would benefit more if I was completely honest with her, so I was.
Today, roughly five months after I last spoke to her, she wanted to thank me and let me know that she appreciated the fact that I had been open about the new journey she was about to travel. She did find it hard at times, but because of my openness she had been able to ensure that she had a good support network around her and she was determined not to let her previous concerns stand in her way of achieving her goal.
I left that conversation knowing that I had made a difference to her life, a small one yes, but nonetheless it was significant enough for her to still want to say thank you to me after all this time. I love being a Student Mentor at UWN!
Today was a good Mentor day!
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