From November 2021 to May 2022, I had the pleasure of volunteering as a student-mentor for the International Student Experience Programme. As a student-mentor, I helped lead an online meeting via zoom every month, for a group of first year students enrolled in the BSc Clinical pharmacy programme, joint with China Pharmaceutical University. The goal of the programme was to support these students as they transition from studies in China, to eventually in the UK for their final two years on the programme.

In the meetings, I helped lead discussions on academic, social and professional life in the UK, with a special focus on healthcare and pharmacy. I remember feeling nervous to meet my group of mentees for the first time, as I was not sure what to expect and had never taken on a role such as this. At our first meeting, it turned out that the students were nervous as well, as I found it difficult to get them to discuss, share and be engaged. As I opened up and shared my own experiences, I think the students became more comfortable and followed suit by sharing more about themselves as well. Eventually, the students felt comfortable to share that most of them felt worried about not being able to communicate in English as well as their native language, which was why they would hesitate to speak during the meetings. With each session however, the students became much more confident in themselves as we created a safe and encouraging space during the sessions.

I learned more about their experience with student life in China, their hobbies and cultural celebrations, and I shared more about my experience being a student in the UK. Through sharing and learning about one another’s lives, we formed friendships, which was my favourite take away from the whole experience.

 

 

 

 

Mairaa Irfan

MPharm student

Related