Mentors have been supporting University of Reading students for over a decade through the Thrive Mentoring Programme, and we were delighted to celebrate their hard work at two recent events.
The Thrive Mentoring Programme is the University of Reading’s award-winning career mentoring scheme, which matches students with alumni for mentoring in their chosen industry.
Several Thrive mentors were nominated for awards at the recent Celebration of Volunteering event, which brings together members of the University community to recognise the wide range of impactful volunteering our community is involved in.
Following the Celebration of Volunteering, mentors and mentees were brought together for a networking evening on Whiteknights campus. Both groups enjoyed the chance to meet each other in person, with mentors commenting on how useful it was to also meet fellow mentors to share their experiences and ideas for how best to support their mentees. The evening also saw sessions given by University Careers staff to provide mentors and mentees with useful skills and exercises to carry forward in their mentoring partnerships.
Bethan Bourne, Projects Manager for Thrive Mentoring, said: “This event was all about connection – responding to what mentors and mentees told us they needed, which was a chance to feel part of a community, share ideas, and be celebrated for their dedication. It was powerful to see that come to life.”
The impact of mentoring
As part of the Celebration of Volunteering event, Isla Brackenbury, a second year architecture student, shared why she had nominated her mentor, Jennie Ellis, for an award. In the video below Isla speaks about how Jennie has helped her plan her future career, and Jennie shares her experience of being a mentor, including how it has helped her own professional development.
Watch Isla and Jennie’s video:
Michael Dornan, who graduated with a degree in meteorology in 1996, attended both celebration events with his mentees, Bareerah Chughtai and Jasmine Lo.
Bareerah, a second year computer science student, nominated Michael for Alumni and Supporter Volunteer of the Year at the Celebration of Volunteering, in recognition of the impact his mentoring has had on her.
Bareerah said of Michael’s support: “This has been a crucial experience for me. He played a pivotal role in helping me secure a placement in Formula 1, which has always been my dream. Michael selflessly shared his time, knowledge, and experience to guide me through every step of the process. His tailored advice helped me excel during the interview and stand out from other candidates. Beyond providing practical tips, he supported me emotionally, instilling confidence when I doubted myself and reminding me of my potential.
“Despite his busy schedule, he made himself available for countless conversations, always patient and genuinely invested in my success.
“He didn’t just help me with this opportunity but also taught me valuable lessons about perseverance, humility, and personal growth, which will stay with me for life.”
Michael, who has been mentoring students since 2018, said: “I remember having such a great time at the University in the 1990s, but having got a degree I lacked direction about what to do next and, as the first in my family to go to university, I had no real insight about opportunities in the ‘real world’. The opportunity to help others through a process that I quite honestly fumbled through was compelling enough for me to sign up.
“I feel that the role of a mentor is firstly to understand the world through your mentee’s eyes, so that you have empathy, and then to help them understand the world from the employer’s perspective. Bareerah was determined to get a placement with an F1 team, and when she was invited to a half-day interview, we sat down and discussed what to expect and how best to prepare. It was great when Bareerah shared with me her positive experiences after the interview, and then a few days later that she’d got the role.
“I feel I learn as much from the students as they do from me, and I get real pleasure when I see them succeed and grow.”
Would you like to become a career mentor and support a current student in their career journey? Mentor sign-ups are now open for the upcoming academic year. Sign up by completing this form.
