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Make a Difference as a Mentor at USC

Do you remember what it was like to come out? What it was like to discover who you are, what you want to do in life, and how you fit in to the USC community? As a mentor, you have the opportunity to be part of that process for someone else. Peer mentors are special because, unlike faculty and staff, you know the ins and outs of what it is like to be a student right now – where to go, what to do, how to meet people, and where to find support. You also have much to offer your mentee in the form of compassion, insight and your own lived experience. Often, helping someone else work through their difficulties also provides you with fresh insight about your own identity and life goals. Below you will find additional details about being a mentor in our amazing program. We look forward to hearing from you!

PROGRAM GOALS FOR MENTORS
  • Develop rapport with your mentee.
  • Help your mentee to create specific personal goals.
  • Establish boundaries for the mentoring relationship.
  • Plan specific activities that meet the needs of your mentee and his/her goals.
  • Connect your mentee to USC and local Los Angeles resources.
  • Have fun together and learn as much from your mentee as s/he learns from you!
TIME COMMITMENT
  • Pre-match training before initiating the mentoring relationship (8 hours).
  • Monthly mentor group meetings (1 hour).
  • Weekly contact with your mentee (minimum of 15 minutes).
  • Monthly meeting with your mentee (minimum of 1 hour).
MENTOR/MENTEE MATCHING
Based upon personality, background, goals, and interests, mentors and mentees are matched at various times in the semester. Most matches happen at the beginning of each academic semester, but due to differing match characteristics and ongoing admission to the program, some matches occur mid-semester. Mentoring research has shown that it is most important to make an informed, compatible match for the long-term well-being of each mentee. As such, some mentors may need to wait longer for the Mentoring Coordinator to find the right mentoring match. This has nothing to do with the quality of the mentor. The Mentoring Coordinator supervises each match and conducts ongoing participant training to further strengthen the longevity and successful outcome of the match.


THE MENTOR APPLICATION PROCESS
All potential mentors must fill out and submit a mentor application to the LGBT Resource Center (STU 202B) in person or via e-mail. After applying, the Peer Mentoring Coordinator will contact you and set up an informal meeting. You can get in touch with the Peer Mentoring Coordinator at mypeermentor@gmail.com or call (213)740-7619. Don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions! We want to make sure the mentoring experience is right for both you and your potential mentee.


Click below for more information about how to apply.
Advice for Mentors

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