Millie’s anxiety about feeling in control of her schoolwork was getting a little out of hand and resulted in tension and arguments with her Mum. Millie needed some help getting her headspace clear. Here’s how it worked out for her…
So… how do you get started with a mentor?
The first thing to do is to approach the potential mentor. Ask if you can make a time to talk to them about it. At the meeting, ask if they are happy to make a regular time to talk to you, help you get started on things and check in you’re your organization. How often you catch up with your mentor will also vary; weekly is best to start off with and once you’ve got things organised and rolling it might be once a fortnight.
Don’t be afraid to approach someone (they can only say no!) and if they’re not able to commit the time, try someone else.
A mentoring session might run like this:
- Get diary updated and fill in missing details
- Make a list of things that need doing and when they need to be done by
- Take a look at tricky assignments
- Discuss options for study strategies and check that some study is being done (as opposed to just doing homework)
- Make sure loose papers are filed away
- Discuss any difficulties, but focusing on the positive options and actions, rather than dwelling on negative things you can’t change
- Talk about motivation and reminders to stay on track. Your mentor might ask you to complete small tasks during the week eg, clean out your school bag or document the time you spend on your homework
Initially touching base with your mentor needs to be a regular thing. It might be for a few short months, maybe you’ll touch base on and off over many years. Or you might need to continue that regular support for a longer period. Or you might change mentors and find someone who will challenge you more as you grow and improve. Everyone is different and our needs are neither right nor wrong.
Essentially, your mentor is a “safe” person who you can talk to about the worries and frustrations of the week and who will help direct your homework and study and keep you on track. It’s all about forming new habits and feeling good about yourself as a learner. And with a mentor you can only go upwards!
