I’ve now been an FYS mentor for four weeks and NO ONE has come to see me yet! Why don’t people want help with their papers? Do they think it will take to much time or that it will be embarrassing?
When we role played in class today, being the tutor and the tutee, it was much easier to play the role of the tutee. The example paper would have been MUCH better if someone –ANYONE- had read it over. I wish I could assure all first years that writing mentors are harmless and can definitely help. For the first years that I am mentoring, I wish I could go to their class and tell them that it is easy to come and get help. Unfortunately, I have class during their FYS meeting time, so I guess I just have to sit in the library and wait for them to come to me on their own.
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Well, I don't know how the mentoring is going right now but I can give you some insight into the thinking of the First Year's mind.Being a first year myself.
First years do not come to their mentors mostly beause they figured that they don't need help. I know that in the beginning of my FYP, I never went to my mentor for help. But after the first couple of times that I went for help on my papers, I relized how much easier it would have been to just go to her from the beginning. Now, I do not want to generalize everyone but typically, First Years think we know EVERYTHING already. So why go to a mentor. What can they do for me or tell me that I do not already know? And that is one of the reasons that first year student do not go for help. Another reason can be that first years feel somewhat intimidated by older students. Again,I do not want to group everyone together but fear can be a great facor. Will he/she think Im brothering him/her? Will I be judged or be made fun of for not knowing what to do?
These examples and more can help a mentor undertsand why they may find themselves lonely. The solution? Well, I don't know if I really have the answer but some tips may be to be friendly and not make yourslf look like an authority figure. Or maybe find a way to address the students face-to-face, thought I know you said you had class during the FYS meeting. Maybe things have gone better now but I just wanted to make a comment.
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