How can you help your mentee feel more connected to their school community?

To feel more part of your school, it's important to find what you like and what you're good at. Join clubs or groups that match your hobbies—whether it's art, sports, or science. Maybe you're great at certain subjects; try to get involved in events related to those. Talk to teachers or mentors about your interests—they can guide you to the right activities. Volunteering is also a cool way to connect with others who care about the same things. By exploring clubs, following your interests, using your strengths, talking to mentors, and doing some volunteering, you'll really start feeling at home in your school community.

A school community can feel vast, especially for new or shy students. As a mentor, your role is to be the bridge, helping your mentee feel seen, included, and valued. if you can in any way do the below Spark Interests / Connect with Peers / Celebrate Accomplishments / Advocate for Inclusivity / Be a Listening Ear ,connection takes time and effort. Be patient, supportive, and celebrate small victories. By fostering their interests, facilitating peer connections, and celebrating their individuality, you can help your mentee build a strong and enriching sense of belonging within their school community.

Two things I have found helpful at this stage of identifying their interests and strengths are: Self-reflection exercises and Personality Tests. Practicing self-reflection exercises help mentees dive deep into uncovering the things they are naturally inclined to or naturally good at. Most of the the people we define as "genius", in reality don't have a supernatural hability per se. The key to their success has been the fact that they identified what they were naturally good at and they focused their energy and time in working to capitalize on that. The exact same thing can be done with a mentee. Personality tests are great tools to help mentees gather information on personal strengths and weaknesses. They are good starting point.

If they will feel "heard" and "listened" carefully by their peers, that's more than enough to let them feel that they are taken seriously, whether people accept their opinion or not, that's a different case scenario and can be dealt separately.

1. Join Clubs: Pursue interests through clubs and activities. 2. Attend Events: Participate in sports, performances, and social gatherings. 3. Volunteer: Contribute to the school community through volunteer work. 4. Collaborate: Work on group projects to build relationships. 5. Use Resources: Access school support services for guidance. 6. Initiate Conversations: Engage with peers, teachers, and staff. 7. Leadership Roles: Take on responsibilities in student government or leadership. 8. Celebrate Achievements: Recognize and celebrate academic and extracurricular successes. 9. Network:Connect with older students or alumni for guidance. 10. Cultural Involvement: Participate in cultural or diversity events.

Encourage your mentee to get to know people in their department. Let them know that forming real connections is key to feeling part of the school community.

In my experience, one of the key factors that helps mentees succeed when being introduced to relevant people is to prepare them to succeed in the actual introduction and subsequent interactions. No matter how great the contact person is and/or how big is their level of influence if the mentee is not able catch the attention and interest of the new connection. To prepare mentees for this: a) guide them on how to create a strong introduction/elevator pitch, b) provide advice on how to best approach the specific person they will be meeting, c) help them gain clarity on why it is important to connect with that particular person, d) encourage them to make a great first impression filled with authenticity.

Mentees learn best by doing. Being exposed to the actual work behind events and initiatives will help them enhance their skills, make new meaniful connections, and gain confidence. In my experience, one of the reasons why their involvement into group activities is critical to their success is that at some point they are in situations where they need to do things that are outside of their comfort zone. By doing so they accelerate their growth, they build resilience, and they gain experience and perspective on things they would not have otherwise been exposed too. Learning by being actively involved in activities is the way to go.

To enhance your mentee's connection to their school community, encourage active participation in clubs, events, and extracurricular activities. Foster introductions to peers and faculty, emphasizing the importance of networking. Provide guidance on navigating school resources and support systems. By promoting engagement and offering insights into the school's social fabric, you empower your mentee to feel more connected and integrated into their academic community.