Mentorship matters
“Even one session can leave you with a lot of insight.“
When Anna first booked an appointment with a peer mentor from the Centre for Learning Strategy Support (CLSS), she had no idea she was creating a connection she’d value for years to come.
Anna was looking for practical ways to manage her daily work, so she booked an appointment with peer mentor Anneke and immediately felt the positive impact.
“Anneke was a very good listener,” she says. “She reflected on my concerns and the areas where I was looking for more support. Then she added other pieces when she noticed there was something else that I could benefit from but didn’t know to ask about.”
Soon, the pair were meeting on a weekly basis.
Together, they worked through scheduling systems, organization strategies, approaches to self-compassion and more.
Anna remembers being surprised by how tailored the mentorship experience became. “We actually went through drafting emails together,” she says. “I didn’t realize the extent to which she could offer support.”
All CLSS peer mentors receive extensive training and, as U of T students themselves, are able to offer personal, practical and relatable insight to the students they mentor.
“I’ve been through a lot of the same things and I know what worked for me,” Anneke says. “And Anna’s always eager to try strategies I bring to the table – she’s always willing to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work, we move on. It’s very encouraging.”
The skills developed in CLSS mentorship sessions extend far beyond the classroom too. Both Anna and Anneke leave their time together feeling confident and empowered, which carries over to other areas of their personal lives.
“I think this is one of the resources students should really try,” says Anna, noting that CLSS supports are included in tuition fees and don’t require any additional cost.
Appointments are available various times of the day, and students can meet as often or as infrequently as they need to. Students can also choose a different mentor every time if that’s what works for them.
For students wondering whether mentorship is for them, Anna’s advice is simple: go for it. “Even just one session,” she says, “can leave you with a lot of insight.”
