Mentee Saba and mentor Mel met on the 12th Routes Mentoring Programme. They were paired up to work on Saba’s goals, related to her next steps in education. Reflecting on their time together, they’ve written a conversation about their main take-aways from four months of mentoring. A conversation about setting goals, building confidence and advice for new mentees!
Saba: I'm so happy I joined this programme. It's a great opportunity for me to learn about different topics, gain valuable skills and build great relationships with people from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
Last year I wanted to apply for a Masters course at University, but I didn’t feel like I had the skills yet. I joined the programme to get support in understanding the UK academic system and getting my application ready. At the start of the programme we set goals like working on my CV and personal statement. We even set an ambitious goal of applying for a course - which I managed to do!
Mel: A friend recommended Routes to me as she knows I enjoy mentoring. I was thrilled to be matched with Saba who is passionate about her subject and how it can help people. It was one of many things we found we had in common, and as a health researcher at a London university, I felt I had relevant and useful experience to support Saba to achieve her goals.
Saba: I was always afraid to do things by myself. I thought I wasn't capable of doing anything on my own.
My mentor helped and encouraged me - she gave me an understanding of how someone can have many skills, but they need someone to encourage them and trust them so they can show themselves. And also how we can accomplish difficult things together.
Mel: Many of us struggle to talk about ourselves, our strengths and the things that drive us - they just ‘are’! Working with Saba on her personal statement we had a go at thinking about our strengths and how they related to our work. We’re both close with our families and laughed about how differently they might describe us! I’m glad that through these conversations Saba was able to appreciate how many skills she has developed through her life, and how she can use them to accomplish her goals.
Saba: My mentor used to listen to me and try to help me to achieve even more than what I asked for. Going through the migration system is not easy. I used to tell my mentor I don't feel great and I'm trying not to get down. She helped me a lot with that - she listened to me when I needed that and tried different ways to encourage me to get out of that mood and try to achieve my goal.
Mel: Our first reaction on hearing about someone’s experiences can be try to ‘do something’. I’ve learned that the value of mentoring, particularly when the challenges mentees have faced are too big to change alone, can be about providing a supportive space.
All the credit for progress towards her goals has to go to Saba. She has worked hard to research and prepare herself to apply for her Masters programme, and has taken the brave steps to be open and ask for help. It has been lovely spending time together and watching her confidence grow.
“Our first reaction on hearing about someone’s experiences can be try to ‘do something’. I’ve learned that the value of mentoring, particularly when the challenges mentees have faced are too big to change alone, can be about providing a supportive space. ”
Saba: My advice to mentees is to believe in yourself, you are really powerful. Just trust yourself and your mentor! What I liked the most about the programme is that they connect you with a professional mentor to support you and guide you to explore the skills you already had and to gain other skills from the sessions you provide.
“What I liked the most about the programme is that they connect you with a professional mentor to support you and guide you to explore the skills you already had and to gain other skills from the sessions you provide.”
Saba and Mel were part of the 12th Routes Mentoring Programme, running from April to July 2024. They will both become part of the Routes mentoring alumni community, with continued access to goal-related resources.
Want to learn more about Mel’s learning as a mentor and a leader? The Routes Mentoring Programme is designed as an immersive learning programme for mentors, of which mentoring is an integral part. You can read more about Mel’s experiences of the training components of the Programme in her blog here.
Are you interested in joining Routes as a mentee? We run two Mentoring Programmes a year, with support on goals related to education, employment and confidence - please find more information here.
