Why I want to be a Peer Mentor

I have always wanted to be a peer mentor because I felt that every student, no matter how smart, how tough, how strong-willed, needs someone to guide them rough times. As a freshman last year, I had a peer mentor myself. My mentor was instrumental in facilitating my transition to college both academically and socially. She introduced me to a lot of on-campus activities and encouraged me to become very involved in the community. Accordingly, I want to help incoming freshman just as my mentor helped me. I want to help new students feel comfortable at Johns Hopkins rather than feel overwhelmed by a completely new world. If I become a peer mentor, I will be very involved in the students’ career at Johns Hopkins. I will advise these students on which classes to take and help them find clubs and activities that suit their interests. I want to develop a lasting relationship with each of my mentees, like I have with my mentor, because I know the importance of having someone guide you through all the challenges in college. I want to make a positive impact on at least one student so that I know personally that I made a difference, no matter how insignificant, in someone’s life.