Be a positive influence for new students – become an ArtsEd peer mentor like Mariana!
Beginning university can feel daunting at first. Peer mentors play a critical role in supporting commencing students in their transition to Deakin.
The Faculty of ArtsEd Peer Mentor Program matches new ArtsEd students with a peer mentor during the first five weeks of their commencement at Deakin. Peer mentors are often matched to students who are studying the same course or similar subjects.
We’re currently seeking ArtsEd students for a range of volunteer mentor roles within the Peer Mentor Program for Trimesters 2 and 3, 2024.
Being a mentor in the ArtsEd Peer Mentoring program will help you develop and demonstrate your transferable skills in preparation for your future career, while giving you the rewarding experience of supporting another student on their path to success.
Meet Mariana!
Mariana is one of our beloved peer mentors located at the Waurn Ponds Campus. She is studying a double major of Media & Communications and Communication Design, and has transitioned from mentee to mentor, all within her first year.
Reflecting on the beginning of her Deakin journey, Mariana started her degree in Trimester 2, 2023, entering uni at a quieter time of the academic year.
‘The trimester that I came it was very lonely,’ she said. ‘I struggled to find people with common interests.’
As an international student in a new place, Mariana attended the ArtsEd Welcome to Deakin session and was introduced to the Peer Mentoring Program.
I think the program really helped me to make those connections … it helped me to make friends and feel more confident in myself.
The support Mariana found within the Arts & Education Peer Mentoring Program geared her with the tools for success. She has now brought these new-found insights and skills with her into this first trimester of 2024, where she transitioned into her new role as a peer mentor. This did, however, bring forth a new set of challenges.
‘Honestly, it was very challenging in the beginning as I was unsure how to talk to my mentees,’ Mariana said. ‘It’s a different kind of relationship, you have a closer connection than a student would have with their teacher but there are still professional boundaries to maintain.’
Having now completed her first trimester as a mentor, it’s safe to say these difficulties have subsided.
‘I definitely had some skills to work on, like time management, leadership, problem solving skills and critical thinking, but I’ve learned so much about myself in the process,’ said Mariana.
See yourself as a peer mentor?
Whether you’re a current mentee or just keen to try something new, why not follow in Mariana’s footsteps and become an ArtsEd peer mentor too? You never know who you might meet!
Becoming a mentor will allow you to act as a positive influence and role model for new ArtsEd students while also gaining relevant employment experience to boost your CV. As a peer mentor, you will:
- gain real-world experience planning and facilitating mentoring sessions
- become a role model to new students and have a positive impact on their uni experience
- expand your network of contacts and friends within the University
- develop your interpersonal and active listening skills
- access exclusive Student Helping Students (SHS) events and employment opportunities
- gain skills and references for future employability.
Upon completion of the program, all peer mentors will receive a certificate which will help you stand out to future employers, and multiple ongoing professional development and advancement opportunities as a part of ArtsEd Peer Network.
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to develop transferable skills and make a positive impact on the Deakin community. Apply now to become an ArtsEd Peer Mentor!
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