We’re so proud of the work our Peer Mentors have done this year to help our new students feel at home.
To celebrate, we recently held the Peer Mentor Thank You event, where mentees were given the opportunity to nominate their Peer Mentor for the award of Peer Mentor of the Year.
We received over 200 nominations from across the campus, so we’re very proud of our three winners, Akrivi Chaimala, Ned Philcox and Evie Jackson.
We asked our winners all about what it’s like to be a Peer Mentor…
Akrivi Chaimala (Stage 2, Politics & International Relations)
Why did you decide to become a Peer Mentor?
Following my own experience as a mentee last year, I quickly understood the value of an enthusiastic Peer Mentor. The very presence of a peer who has already experienced the process of adapting to university life can be very reassuring to new students currently grappling with this transition. As such, I decided to become a Peer Mentor to contribute to Newcastle University’s effort to welcome new students on campus and integrate them smoothly into our student community.
What do you do as a Peer Mentor?
A Peer Mentor is a helpful and friendly point of contact for new students. During my own time in this role, I understood that new students may often want to explore their independence and adapt to the new environment on their own. However, that does not mean that a reliable Peer Mentor on campus is unnecessary. On the contrary, possessing a much wider understanding of the support mechanisms and academic resources available at university, a Peer Mentor offers invaluable support and practical guidance to mentees.
Evie Jackson (Stage 3, Computer Science)
What can a mentee expect from a Peer Mentor?
A Peer Mentor supports students and ensures their transition to university is as smooth as possible by answering any questions or provide support/advice before mentees move to Newcastle and during the first semester. This can involve signposting students to relevant university teams or suggest activities and places to try out when students first move to Newcastle. We often answer other questions about student life – a common question we get is when is it sensible to start looking for second-year accommodation. As older students, we are often well-placed to answer questions about topics such as accommodation, university specifics that students might not (yet!) be comfortable asking lecturers/staff, or even casual inquiries about places to eat or drink. We meet with mentees a few times during the first semester to ensure everything is going well and to check in.
What transferable skills have you developed as a result of being a Peer Mentor?
I’ve developed the ability to quickly build trust and relationships with my mentees to ensure they feel comfortable engaging and asking questions. Supporting students during their transition has enhanced my ability to empathize and understand diverse perspectives.
Ned Philcox (Stage 3, Psychology)
What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a Peer Mentor?
I would say go for it! It’s not a massive time commitment but it equips you with a load of skills that are applicable for post-university life. It is a chance to make the university experience easier for the first years, and to make a positive impact on the new generation of students at Newcastle. I found it extremely rewarding and found that the weekly sessions with my mentees were often a highlight of my week.
What was it like being nominated and winning Peer Mentor of the Year?
I won’t lie – I’m not very good at receiving praise generally! But receiving the award was really special, and seeing the comments that my mentees left was really lovely. I’m just glad that I could be useful to them and hope to continue being a point of contact for them for the rest of the year. It was also nice being able to celebrate the evening with some of my fellow Peer Mentors – I have made some strong friendships with the other mentors which I hope will continue post university.