Maria’s story
Maria, a Pharmacy student at De Montfort University, shares her experience of volunteering as a mentor at IntoUniversity Leicester North.
Maria, a former student at IntoUniversity Nottingham West, participated in over 50 sessions before studying Pharmacy at De Montfort University. Inspired by her own experience as a mentee, she volunteered as a mentor at our Leicester North centre, supporting her mentee academically while bringing a friendly and engaging presence to all sessions and whole-class activities.
“When an IntoUniversity centre opened next to my home in 2012, I was lucky to experience the invaluable support and guidance from the staff. Back then, I had a mentor who was studying Biology at university. I specifically chose to volunteer with IntoUniversity due to the organisation’s emphasis on providing academic support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
One of the best memories I have of volunteering is when my mentee and I researched possible careers in the future. As a student pharmacist, I was able to share my experience of picking GCSEs, A-levels, as well as the UCAS process and university. We researched jobs within the healthcare sector including medicine, nursing, and radiotherapy. It was rewarding to see my mentee show an interest in many job roles and understand what qualifications may be required for those specific careers.
Being a mentor, I have developed my leadership qualities, especially in goal-setting activities with my mentee. Being able to provide guidance is a crucial skill for my future career in pharmacy. I have also deepened my confidence, as I can offer support to my mentee. After a few sessions, I felt confident in leading discussions with my mentee. I now have trust in my abilities and I am improving my communication skills.”