Why Every College Fresher in Nepal Needs a Mentor (And How to Find the Right One)

Can you recall the first week in college?

A new building. New people. An insane schedule. Seniors who have all the answers. A thick curriculum that you have never seen before. And a quiet doubt in your mind: Am I getting it right?

This doubt is shared by most freshmen in Nepal. Regardless of whether you have recently enrolled in the BSc CSIT, BCA, BBS, BBA, nursing, engineering or any other course, the freshman year in college is more about understanding how college life works rather than learning from your books. There is no such manual provided to you anywhere. You figure it out from your mistakes, wastage of time, and loss of confidence.

This is precisely where a mentor becomes your savior.

This article describes the role of a mentor, how freshmen with a mentor are able to settle down quickly and plan better, what issues a mentor can help you avoid, and also how to choose the right mentor.

What a Mentor Actually Is (And What a Mentor Is Not)

A mentor is not a teacher. A teacher lectures on a topic. A mentor provides guidance on how to navigate through the process.

Mentors are generally people who have made a step further than you: a senior who has already gone through your semester, a graduate who has successfully faced the job hunt, or a professional who has already developed a career in the field of your interest. They are not supposed to do your job and provide you with short cuts; instead, they will tell you things that were not written in any brochure.

Moreover, they are not an assurance of success, some sort of substitute for hard work, and the person who will always take your decisions for you. Good mentors will help you by asking those questions that will allow you to see everything clearly. The worst thing you can do as a fresher is to expect some sort of magical answers from your mentor.

If everything goes right, the process is quite simple. You ask clear questions. They provide answers based on their experience. Then, you act accordingly.

Why the First Year Is the Most Important Year to Have Right Mentors?

Students generally feel that final year is important for placement and projects since it is the time when all these happen. But in actuality, it is the first year whose practices decide what lies ahead.

This is how things go in absence of any mentorship.

Freshers decide upon electives, clubs, and auxiliary skills based upon what friends have opted for. They waste their first two semesters being complacent and taking it easy because the subjects look doable at that time only to be caught unaware by the harder courses. They believe that internships would take some thought in the last year, which leaves them unprepared for internships that demand certain set of skills. They obtain certificates without thinking much. They remain mum while being overwhelmed with the fear of not knowing whom to turn to.

A mentor breaks these cycles in the beginning itself. An upper classman who himself has been through your course can guide you about those subjects where you should put in some extra effort, professors who explain the topics better, the skills needed for the prospective job that you would like, and which social media advice to ignore.

Seven Things a Good Mentor Helps You Do

Go in a certain direction without panic. There are quite a number of freshmen that are expected to understand where they want to go on the first day of college. With the help of a mentor, you will be able to investigate rather than make decisions. You can speak with a person working in your field and see whether it suits you.

Make your study plan. College study is different from school study. With the help of a mentor, you will see how he or she planned his/her time, made notes, prepared for exams and combined work on the assignment with the process of studying.

Do not repeat the freshman mistakes. Missing classes in the first month, neglecting the attendance policy, making assignments in the last week, comparing yourself with the noisiest student in the class. The person who has already made those mistakes will warn you beforehand.

Study the things not included in the syllabus. Most of the employers think about what you are able to do, not only about what you have learned at college.

Do internship and job searches early. It’s extremely helpful to know what a good resume should look like, how interviews actually go, and what recruiters are looking for. To begin these processes either at the beginning or second year instead of the final one will be an enormous advantage for you.

Gain experience and build network. It’s much easier when you speak to someone who is ahead of you and knows the way better. With time, your mentor usually introduces you to some other people, and this network becomes one of your most valuable resources.

Manage stress and doubts. Your first year may seem very lonely if you have to move away from your home city. It’s extremely helpful to hear “It was the same situation for me but it got better”.

Types of Mentors Every Fresher Can Look For

Do not settle for just one mentor; different individuals serve different purposes.

• A peer or senior mentor will be a couple of years senior to you and will understand everything that you are undergoing now and hence will give you practical advice pertaining to your studies, projects and college environment.
• An academic mentor will be a teacher or a lecturer who can advise you about your subjects of interest, research interest and higher education.
• A career mentor will be somebody who will work in the industry you wish to pursue and will be able to give you a clear picture of the actual career and how to start.
• A personal mentor will be anyone who can give you guidance in decision-making, develop good habits and motivate you.

Usually the most successful students have a combination of all of these. Choose any from whom you feel more comfortable to begin with.

How to Find a Mentor as a Fresher in Nepal

It is here that most people get stranded; they wish for a mentor but do not know how to go about getting one or asking for one. This is how it can be done.

Start close to you. Check out the seniors in your very own college, particularly those in your own department, who are highly regarded among their peers. Get involved in activities and discussion forums that have seniors around. Mentorships often arise out of normal chats after these sessions.

Use platforms built for this. Mentorship platforms make it easier because both sides already know why they are there. On a page like the College Awasar mentors page, students can explore available mentors and find someone whose experience matches their goals, instead of cold messaging strangers and hoping for a reply.

Be concrete in your approach. A text such as "Please mentor me" is tough to respond to. But a text such as "I am a BCA student in my first year. Can I ask you some questions regarding web development?" makes it easy to reply.

Appreciate their time. Go ahead prepared with queries, stay brief in the first interaction, and don't forget to say thank you. People get mentored by those who respect their counsel.

Follow up. Once you've spoken to someone, implement at least one piece of their advice and tell them about it. There is no quicker way to build a mentorship relationship than through implementation of advice.

Also Read: Getting a Job After Internship in Nepal

How to Get the Most Out of a Mentor

It’s only half the story to have a mentor. The way you use the opportunity dictates the benefit you get from it.

Bring questions to the table, not just problems. Instead of saying “I don’t know what to do,” say “I’m choosing between two electives and I have my own thoughts. What would you do?”

Be upfront about your weaknesses. If mentors do not know your problem, they will not be able to solve it. Your admission that you’re having trouble with something, or that you aren’t sure what your career should be, is not a weakness. It’s where the helpful advice begins.

Take notes and take action. After every meeting, write down the main things you talked about and select one thing to do before your next meeting.

Do something to help in return. Today, you’re the one coming to ask questions. In two years, you’ll be the more experienced one whose knowledge someone else needs. That’s how the chain works.

A Small Plan for Your First Month

For those entering college, there is an easy strategy. 

For week one, make a list of three things you hope to get out of college: a skill, good grades, experience, or anything else important to you. For week two, find two to three seniors or mentors whose college experience appeals to you. For week three, contact them with one polite and relevant question. For week four, take their advice and see what happens. It is a tiny beginning, but a good habit to establish for the next four years and beyond.

Final Thoughts

A college education does not mean earning just an academic degree. A college education means being ready to learn, to adapt, to grow and establish a career in an ever-changing world. And you don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.

While a good mentor won’t take the road for you, he/she can shine a light, identify the pits, and assure you that it’s normal to feel lost in the first year and that does not mean that you are falling behind.

If you’re a fresher reading this article, there’s one simple thing you need to do today: Pick one person whose road inspires you, and figure out how you’ll ask him/her your first question. And if you are looking for someone new to learn from, have a look at the mentors on College Awasar and see whether someone there fits what you want to learn.

Your first year sets the tone for everything after. Spend it with the right people around you.