Cross Country Collaboration : A West Coast Student with an East Coast Mentor
Last year, I was honored with the privilege of being paired with a mentor through the Pearson Scholars program. I had never had a mentor before and didn’t quite know what to expect. I learned a lot through the experience that I would like to share with you.
Mentorship set the scholarship apart
The Pearson Scholarship for Higher Education is different from other scholarship programs because it is all encompassing, meaning they provide support in multiple areas. In addition to providing financial aid, they also pair the scholar with a mentor from Pearson who helps guide through the transfer student journey. I had always wanted a mentor and was ecstatic when I was paired with Julie Watson. No one can contest that a scholarship is helpful in paying for school, but a mentorship is a bit harder to quantify. There is no dollar amount you can put on a mentorship, and with relationships it’s often said that, “you give what you get”.
Finding a way to connect
My mentor and I live across the country from each other, so figuring out a meeting time was tricky because of time differences and personal commitments. We usually communicate via Skype or traditional phone call. We rely on email to set up meeting times, and I use Google Calendar to keep track of our appointments. We are both extremely busy and sometimes meetings get pushed back, but the important thing is that we do make a point to connect. I’m a very visual person and I like to send emails filled with pictures to give Julie a glimpse of what I’ve been up to. Each month we are presented with a prompt and a topic of the month. The topics range from things like leadership, communication, personal branding and more. We’re both ‘go-getters’, which is really helpful because she has a lot of empathy for my tendency to bite off more than I can chew.
Screenshot of Taylor on a Skype call with her mentor.
Building the relationship
If you have a mentor, chances are you’re each at different points in your lives. Julie and I definitely have different life experiences. We live on the opposite coasts of the U.S., and are different in age. She is starting her family, and I am just beginning to adjust to my independence. Despite that, we have found a way to build our connection. Julie is very empathetic and understanding. She has been extremely supportive and kind to me, and has given me both personal and educational support throughout my transfer process. My mentor is a strong communicator, and I always ask her to look over my scholarship essays, cover letters and college applications.
My mentor makes times for me and she is genuinely interested in my endeavors. Julie asks about my academics, but also about my personal life. She keeps up with what’s going on with my family, or with my boyfriend. I know that Julie has an extremely busy life, but she never makes me feel like she is too busy for me. Even across the miles, she has made a big impact on my life.
Have you ever had a mentor help you? Share with the Pearson Students Community by commenting below!
About the author
Taylor Kim
Taylor Kim is a Fashion Merchandising student at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. She loves the arts, technology, and helping others achieve in their academic endeavors.
In her free time, you’ll find her hiking, camping, practicing photography and visiting art exhibits.
Taylor is a Pearson Scholar and a Pearson Student Insider. To learn more about the Insider program and apply, click here.
