What is a student mentor?

Great mentors aren’t experts; they’re people who care. Peer mentors are student leaders who help their peers learn and grow. As a student mentor, you share what you know, support others as they navigate college life, and offer guidance based on your own experiences.

You’re not expected to have all the answers. You’re more like a teammate—someone who’s been through it before and wants to help others succeed.

Watch how ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ student mentors describe what it means to be a good mentor and what they’ve learned from their own experiences:

What do student mentors do?

What does mentoring look like? Here are some key ways:

  • Understanding Yourself – Cultivate self-awareness so you can show up for others
  • Building People Skills – You practice listening and communicating clearly
  • Creating Supportive Relationships – You help people feel supported and encouraged
  • Helping Peers Navigate Campus – You help others find resources and next steps

FAQs & common scenarios

New to mentoring? Here are some situations you might face and a few ideas to help you respond. Scroll down for some additional resources.

What if someone doesn’t open up or seems quiet?

That’s okay. Some people need time to build trust before sharing. Be patient, ask open-ended questions, and focus on creating a welcoming environment.

If you’re unsure what to talk about, use the  for ideas, discussion questions, and activities to help structure your conversations.

What if someone asks for advice and I'm unsure what to say?

You can share your experiences when they’re relevant, but it’s often more helpful to ask questions that help the person think through their own options and make decisions that work for them.

What if someone shares something personal, difficult, or needs more help than I can provide?

Listen without judgment and show care and support. It’s okay to set boundaries and recognize when a situation is beyond your role as a mentor. Help connect the person with appropriate campus resources, professionals, or other sources of support when needed.

Use this if you think your mentee might need specialized support.

What if I don't know the answer or am not sure how to help?

You don’t need to have all the answers. Be honest, listen carefully, and ask questions to better understand the situation. Focus on helping the person explore options, find the right resource, or identify a next step. If you’re unsure how to respond, reach out to your supervisor, another mentor, or a campus resource for guidance.

What if I feel like I'm not doing a good job as a mentor?

That’s normal. Mentoring is a learning process, and no one does it perfectly. Focus on showing up, listening, building relationships, and learning along the way. Seek feedback and support from fellow mentors, your supervisor, or others in your support network.

Ready to build your skills? Use the pathway below to get started. You’ll explore many of these situations more in the pathway below.

Pathways

Wherever you’re starting from, use the pathway below to explore key mentoring skills. Start with one area below, then pick a topic to explore. You don’t need to do everything at once.

Step 1: Self-assessment

Rating your competence with each skill and identify areas to focus on.

Step 2: Understand yourself (cultivate self-awareness)

Start here. Reflect on how your experiences, values, and emotions shape your mentoring.
Topics:

Step 3: Build your people skills

Next, develop how you listen, communicate, and connect with others.
Topics:

Explore more resources

Want to go further in another competency? Explore additional resources, tools, and examples to support your growth as a mentor.