The 2021 Summer Mentor Program

Students Rising Above is hosting its second annual Summer Mentor Program, a professional development opportunity that allows students to connect with mentors from prospective industries. 

The 29 student participants are divided into two groups, Beginner (for college freshmen and sophomores) and Advanced (for juniors and seniors). Students are matched with volunteers from their field of interest, and they meet biweekly over an eight week period. The goal of this program is to offer students opportunities to network and explore careers.

The Summer Mentor Program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as an offering of academic and professional support for SRA students. For each meeting, students and mentors can choose from a list of topics like networking, experience building, and graduate school. From there, each topic has suggested prompts such as

– What are the best places to look for professional opportunities (internships, volunteer, research experience, etc.)?

– How do you network as an introvert/someone who gets uncomfortable in networking situations?

– How do you navigate imposter syndrome while in grad school?

Some of the industries featured in the program this year include human resources, social work, counseling, college sports, film, broadcast journalism, and finance. At the end of the Summer Mentor Program, there will be a closing event in hopes of creating a space for community building and reciprocity.

Written and Published by Sunari Weaver-Anderson