Reflections 2021

Mentor Reflections per Topic as Reported by the Mentors of Hippokrates

Do you think you were successful in providing newcomers / mentees with support and assistance in the adjustment and transition in their new university environment?

YES! Watching how my mentees grew from when they came at first as shy and little seedlings to them growing into these fierce and strong warriors who had more courage than fear made me realise that I provided enough assistance and did my part in helping them integrate into this new life.

What has been the most challenging part of being a mentor? What will you do differently? What will you advise prospective mentors?

The most challenging part about being a mentor was realising that you cannot pour out from an empty cup. I realised that I needed to really make sure that I was okay and sane before trying to take control of someone else's life and try assist them in growing. It was coming to terms with the fact that before I save someone else I've got to save myself. What I would do differently is definitely checking up on myself a whole lot more making sure that I am good in every sense of the word holistically meaning that spiritually physically mentally and socially because that sort of energy manifests itself in many forms. If you stable then you can be a much better mentor. Advice to prospective mentors: Life is unpredictable and I have come to realise that happiness is just a mind state it is not about what you have or achieve. So look within meditate pray sing shout dance do whatever makes you HAPPY because by so doing you will be a much better mentor.

How do you think you think you refined and strengthened your "communication" skills during your term as a mentor? Please elaborate.

I have a very tight circle of friends and I find myself not seeing the need to leave the security and comfort of talking to the very same people every single day. So being a mentor pushed me out of my comfort zone in the sense that now I had to talk to different sorts of people. Not just talk to them but try and communicate my ideas in a way that will be well received and hopefully met with a lot of enthusiasm. I just kept challenging myself to see how far we could take it as a group. Whether it was trying to get my mentees comfortable enough to share more aspects of themselves or trying to get them positive about the journey ahead after a long day of orientation week activities. I learned to be a lot more intentional and precise with the message I wanted to get across. We didn't get to spend a lot of time together especially during O week where we had tight slots and because I wanted them to also be able to share their experiences and speak I had to learn how to cut the fat from my speech and just keep it precise and to the point but still keeping the same impact.

How do you think you think you refined and strengthened your "collaboration" skills during your term as a mentor? Please elaborate.

As a mentor you are forever collaborating with your fellow mentors House comm members keen and worried parents who just want the best for their children and of course your mentees. Working on all these different levels made me feel like I was a 5 star Michelin chef who was serving 7 different restaurants it was a lot of pressure at times but even that can make diamonds. So I sharpened my collaboration skills by just letting the moment take charge being present.

How do you think you think you refined and strengthened your "critical thinking" skills during your term as a mentor? Please elaborate.

I believe I have always been a critical thinker which I feel is a euphemism for 'over thinker'. I sit for hours on end just thinking. So as a mentor I felt this one skill was only sharpened. It had always been there but by strategizing on how to approach certain topics I became better at it.

How do you think you think you refined and strengthened your "creativity" skills during your term as a mentor? Please elaborate.

Ah creativity ! Well the pandemic has pushed all of us to become a bit more creative. With the state of the world being creative felt like breaking out of a prison. Routine is important don't get me wrong but doing the exact same thing the exact same way every single day for over a year becomes very mundane. As a mentor I had to be creative with the questions I asked I couldn't just ask the basic 'how do you feel about COVID' question I found myself having to spice it up a lot.