A mentor is a guide. A champion. A person who shares their knowledge, and helps you to find your way. Ana Leal explains it well, reflecting on the mentorship of chemistry professor Serge Schreiner.
“Dr. Schreiner has been instrumental in my life and career. Over the years, he became more than a professor or research advisor, but a mentor to me. I am a first-generation student and neither of my parents speak English, so I was navigating college in the U.S. by myself. He was the one who helped and guided me.”
Ana Leal ’22
Some mentors—like your Academic Success Advisor—will be with you from the start. The idea of our RMC EDGE is to connect you right away with advisors who will serve as early mentors and help you plan out your college journey. And as your college experience evolves, so too will your mentors. You’ll have a faculty advisor in your major, and likely other professors too who supervise student research, connect you to internships, or spend time during office hours.
But mentorship is in the water at Randolph-Macon. It’s just part of who we are and how we believe in educating students. Students also find informal mentors among staff who supervise student employment or who support students as part of their jobs. Coaches and alumni get in on the action too.
Even before new students arrive on campus, you’ll hear from your very first mentor – your Captain! Your New Student Transition Captains (or “Captains” for short) will be your orientation leader and more. They’ll help guide you through whatever waters you travel in your first year at RMC, through official events and fun programming, informal check-ins, and even a class called EDGE 181. Later, you can connect with Peer Academic Coaches who can help support you in developing good study habits. We build community, all along the way.
Graduating seniors reguarly cite the special relationships they had at RMC as transformative. So we set up a chance for them to tell their mentors.
