Show up & share: Be a UGA Mentor

Be a UGA mentor

I believe that investing in others is one of the greatest gifts we can give.

By Colleen Pruitt, Development and Alumni Relations, UGA Honors Program

I’d encourage you to think for a moment about the individuals in your own life who have invested in you—your teachers, coaches, pastors, colleagues, camp counselors, supervisors, siblings, parents, family friends—the list goes on.

In my own life, I have been lucky enough to have had numerous people offer me guidance, help support my educational goals, walk me through professional experiences, offer parenting advice, and help me navigate a variety of circumstances.

The common thread with all of the mentors in my life is they were willing to show up and share. And that is great news for the rest of us! Mentoring is something we can all do. It does not require a certain amount of money, a specialized degree, or even advanced training. Mentoring only requires the willingness to invest in someone else.

The UGA Mentor Program, the university’s first comprehensive mentorship initiative, is a digital platform that allows students to form mentoring relationships with alumni, regardless of geographic location or schedules. Mentorship has been proven to help students succeed in their academic and professional careers. A few hours a month can open life-changing doors for our students.

Next year is a special one for the Honors Program as we celebrate 60 years of academic excellence and transformational experiences. Now is the perfect time for you to share your own story and help make a difference for our students. My hope is that 60 Honors alumni will commit to investing in current students by becoming UGA Mentors.

Consider becoming a mentor; consider showing up and sharing. As a mentor myself, I can attest to the fact that you will get far more out of this experience than you give.