Nicola is an Administration and IT student at Kilmarnock College and provides one-to-one mentoring and support to her fellow students on a range of issues including problem solving, approaching concepts in different ways, leadership skills and encouraging and developing confidence.  She provides class talks to National Certificate students on what they might expect from the Higher National Certificate course and has helped them feel more confident about moving up to the next level.

With over 34 years experience in the business world Nicola came to college to gain certification for her skills.  She found herself providing support both to younger students, fresh to the world of business, and to more mature students planning to return to the world of work.

Initially reluctant to offer help to her fellow students in case she came over as ‘too pushy‘ or as a ‘know all‘, students eventually approached her for help and she then felt free to do what she could.   This gave her the boost in confidence to offer assistance to other students in her class.    Though Nicola started volunteering on an ad hoc basis she began to provide regular one-to-one peer support to over twelve students as well as assisting in the classroom.

Her lecturer Sharon Stewart said “Nicola has benefited the College by allowing lecturers to concentrate on teaching the class while knowing that the support she provides would complement their teaching.  This has proved valuable in the classroom setting where each student feels able to contribute within an enhanced learning environment.”

Though Nicola started out by helping students in her own class, she often found herself supporting students from other courses and in other areas of college life.  “Students began to approach me from other courses for support.   I have worked with lecturing staff to create new learning materials, have supported new class reps and supported our Sabbatical Student President our college Information and Communications Officer.

Nicola acknowledges that she has become a more confident individual, an effective contributor and has developed the ability to address problems in different ways, helping others to find solutions appropriate to them.  As Nicola points out, the benefits to her include “… an ability to engage and communicate with people.  I‘ve improved my own subject knowledge and learned to teach, coach and support others.  My public speaking skills have dramatically improved and I find it easier to engage and build a rapport with my audience.”

Intending to keep on volunteering to benefit other students and to enhance the wider college environment, Nicola knows that students feel very comfortable in approaching her for advice and support.     She is now hopeful that other students will recognise the benefits of mentoring and join her in providing support for other students in the future.