Mentoring is mostly associated with career development and career mentoring, with pivotal changes in people’s lives. But student mentoring is extremely valuable in learning and educating. It helps young people successfully move from classroom to career.
Many institutions are striving to make the student experience more seamless when it comes to career guidance.
As a result, students are better equipped to face the challenges of professional life. But the fact is that there are still a lot of people who do not know what mentoring is, how it works and how it can benefit students.
Successful mentoring for students: What is it?
Mentoring is a relationship that goes beyond just passing on knowledge. While knowledge sharing is a part of it, mentoring is more than that. It’s about imparting wisdom, guidance, and insights drawn from personal experiences.
Mentors help mentees develop their skills and expertise, as well as their confidence, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making skills.
One of the remarkable aspects of mentoring is that it does not necessarily require a significant time commitment. Regular, brief interactions can be highly effective, offering mentees valuable advice in digestible portions. Mentoring is a short and meaningful conversation that can fit into busy schedules. Both mentors and mentees can benefit from it.
Mentoring is not confined to a select group of individuals. Everyone, regardless of age, experience, or profession, can be a mentor or find a mentor through various mentoring programs. Both parties benefit from each other’s experiences, learning, and personal growth.
The digital age has also made mentoring more flexible to accommodate virtual interactions. Technology lets mentors and mentees connect even when they live far away, which gives them more chances to grow personally and professionally. Mentoring is a relationship that goes beyond just sharing information. It helps you grow and become better on many levels.
Mentoring as a part of Student Success Experience
What do the students say about mentoring? Do they need it, or is a mentoring relationship essential for their development? What solutions are highly recommended? The statistics show it clearly:
34% of students want more career planning
36% of students want more wellbeing resource
40% want more help balancing their academic, work, and personal lives
Source: Connected Student Report, Third Edition, Salesforce
These numbers indicate the need for solutions that will help students feel more confident in their learning. Guidance is crucial, and a mentorship program can be a great way to tackle the issue.
Furthermore, the students are concerned about their future and career insights:
Nearly half (47%) of the students in our survey reported selecting their institution for career prospects, but only 11% felt very prepared for the world of work, and half (48%) predicted their credentials would be relevant for only five years.
Source: Connected Student Report, Third Edition, Salesforce
What could be done? Higher education institutions have an opportunity to be an anchor for students interested in lifelong learning and continuous skill development. Besides many activities, mentorship programs which connect students and employers could be the answer to the concerns of the young people.
Mentoring is a good way to prepare students for lifelong learning, which is inevitable in the near future. Learning how to gain knowledge and overcome obstacles will be a crucial skill to survive in the highly changing and competitive labor market.
Among the top three resources, students wanted face-to-face or one-on-one advising (35%) (besides job-specific workshops 40% and partnerships with the corporate world 38%).
Source: Connected Student Report, Third Edition, Salesforce
The feedback from the business is clear: they want diverse talent, not just the
stereotypical degrees that might be associated with their industry. That means that the knowledge should go beyond their major and does not define the student. Success depends on how well someone can do things and get along with others. Mentoring can help improve these skills.
Benefits of mentoring: Receiving and giving
Mentoring offers students invaluable guidance and support on their academic and personal journeys. There are multiple benefits of mentoring for students. The profound impact of mentoring nurtures connections, and empowers young minds, laying the foundation for future success.
Increased high school graduation rates and lower dropout rates
Through the guidance and support of mentors, students often find the motivation and resources they need to stay in school, complete their education, and transition successfully to the next phase of life.
Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
It helps young individuals develop the skills and awareness to make positive decisions, maintain supportive friendships, and avoid harmful behaviors.
Better attitude about school and higher enrollment rates
When students have someone who believes in their potential, they tend to exhibit a more positive outlook, engage more actively in learning, and strive for higher educational aspirations. This, in turn, leads to higher college enrollment rates.
Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
Mentees typically experience a boost in their belief in their abilities and talents, which fuels their drive to succeed.
Improved interpersonal skills
The influence of mentoring extends to behavior improvements both at home and in school, as students learn to manage challenges and conflicts more effectively. These positive changes contribute to stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers.
Decreased likelihood of destructive behavior
Perhaps one of the most compelling benefits is the decreased likelihood of young people initiating drug and alcohol use. Mentoring provides a positive, constructive influence that guides students away from destructive habits and towards a brighter, healthier future.
Mentoring doesn’t just happen in one direction; mentors get a lot of stuff out of it as well:
- It boosts their self-esteem as they witness the positive impact of their guidance on a mentee’s growth and development. The sense of accomplishment that comes from helping a young individual achieve their goals is highly rewarding.
- It connects mentors with people who share a passion for nurturing the next generation. Mentors gain valuable insight into the challenges and aspirations of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, fostering a more in-depth understanding of these life stages.
- It helps mentors become more patient and better at supervising. They learn to adjust their guidance and teaching methods to fit their mentees’ needs.
Ultimately, mentoring is a mutually enriching experience that benefits students and empowers mentors to grow and develop personally and professionally.
Elevating student success through mentoring
Student mentors can help students with their studies, personal lives, and work. They can also provide support when it’s needed most.
Student mentees gain valuable skills from their mentorships including networking, research and internship opportunities, and special insight from someone with more experience or knowledge in a specific field.
Mentoring contributes to improving students’ experience and is an important step in their professional careers, leading to a successful and fulfilling life.
