David’s story
David, a Cyber Security postgraduate student at the University of Salford, shares his experiences of volunteering with IntoUniversity.
David first heard about IntoUniversity’s mentoring programme through word of mouth and campus posters while studying at the University of Salford. Keen to engage with the local community and give back to younger generations, he was motivated by his own positive experience of having a mentor growing up. Throughout his volunteering, David has been a consistent and reliable presence, using his relatable approach to inspire students to set SMART targets and reach their full potential.
“IntoUniversity is focused on making an impact on the younger generation, especially at a community level; this is something which aligns with my values and ethos. I like to give back – I have been a recipient of mentoring when I was younger and it felt like the right thing to do.
My best memory was seeing one of my mentees speak in front of a crowd at the Mentoring Graduation. What got me really excited about that, was that we had set him a goal to do this, and this was the first step in building his confidence. On the day, he made the independent decision to deliver his speech in front of the crowd without his script. This made me really happy. This may seem like something minimal to people our age, but I would say that it had a high level of importance for him.
Since volunteering, I’ve been able to improve my communication skills. To explain concepts to young people, you have to find a way to really simplify it. You also have to think about different ways to engage them in a conversation.
I like the work IntoUniversity is doing, it provides a way for people to give back to society. They create a communal space to look after young people, and for young people to express themselves freely.”