Notes

As I look back at my first year in the institute, I realize how much that one year has shaped my stay in IITB. I owe a lot of that to the ISMP mentor that I had then. I still remember a lot of fundae that she had imparted to us back then. I wish to be able to do the same for the incoming batch. Having mentored sophomores for the past two years as a DAMP mentor, I have come to realize the joy that a mentor feels when her kids do well, and realizing that she had some role to play in that. The challenges faced by freshmen face are very different from those that sophomores face. I wish experience mentoring freshmen through these unique and consequential challenges.

The biggest challenge according to me is responsibly handling their newfound independence. There can be two ends of the spectrum. One end is when students don't get involved in anything at all except for academics, and the other is when, owing to a burnout during JEE, students stop studying altogether. The first scenario isn't desirable as the four or five years in Insti is an opportunity for all round development, and that is essential for growth. Also that freshman year is probably the only time when students can dabble in a lot of things without having to take too much responsibility. Latter isn't desirable either as academics are very important too. The big challenge here is to strike the right balance.
Another big challenge is that everyone comes from a different background, and it is important for students to overcome whatever limitations their background may impose. That, and to interact with people of different backgrounds.

I would say the first and foremost task of an ISMP mentor would be to help freshmen settle in their new setting. This can be considered to consist of the following subtasks:
a.) Make the freshmen feel at home in Insti. Encourage them to interact with one another - to break the ice.
b.) Make sure that he/she is approachable. My ISMP mentor was very approachable and I still contact her when I am in doubt. I understand that a mentor should have that bond with all her mentees.
c.) Warn them about the Organic Chemistry test. That one takes everyone by surprise :P
d.) Encourage them to participate in a lot of orientations and various events that happen around the year. A lot of people form long lasting hobbies in their first year. At the same time, help the mentees not get overwhelmed by the plethora of events taking place and help them choose wisely. My mentor did encourage us to participate, but did not warn us about the latter
e.) Help students form a short term (1 month) and a long term (1 semester) goal. I remember a lot of times I did not have the big picture at all, and that was nerve racking.
f.) Try and convey the importance of Academics. A lot of seniors that freshman interact with tend to not be serious about acads and students tend to get the idea that acads are not important at all. I did. My mentor helped me rewire big time.

There are 3 essential qualtities:
a.) Empathy : ability to understand a mentee without having been in a similar situation
b.) Being able to understand what a good course of action would be: and being able to convince the mentee of it without being pushy
c.) Understanding one's limitations : It's better to consult someone than to give faulty advice