Impact Stories

Transferring universities was one of the most difficult challenges I have faced. Before I arrived at UGA, I was at a university where I was just not happy. Everyone around me was having a great time, but I felt like that school wasn’t the place for me. I was lost. It felt like I was just watching the days go by, counting down until I could finally transfer.

The transition was very intimidating and took a lot of hard work, especially since I had transferred during the spring semester of my sophomore year. I had to start over. I poured all my energy into making new friends, joining new clubs, and putting myself out there in every way I could think of, which led me to join the UGA Mentor Program. When I walked up to the UGA Mentor Program table for the first time in Tate Student Center, I had no idea how large of an impact that it would have on my college experience.

I initially was a pre-vet student when I transferred, but I had not been able to receive any academic or professional support concerning my pre-vet track from my prior university. I felt behind the curve when I got to UGA. Everyone around me had already completed internships or shadowing experience while I barely knew how to get either. I didn’t even know where to begin with networking in general. I felt completely clueless concerning my future career. I knew that my end goal of applying to veterinary school required work, but I had no idea where to start.

Lost in my confusion, the UGA mentor Program felt like a lifeline. I found my first mentor through the “Circle of Success” program. This was a very unique experience where I was in a group of peers who all shared similar interests, all being mentored by a veterinarian for the University of Georgia. Having those fellow mentees in my group made the whole process much less daunting than I thought it would be. Through that experience, I was able to listen to my mentor’s advice and personal story which in turn helped me realize that the pre-vet path wasn’t the one for me. His guidance allowed me the space to reflect inwards and, even though that I now know what my future career will not look like, I am happy with the decision that I’ve made.

Without the UGA Mentor Program, I would’ve gone through school completely unaware of how important building and working towards your future during college truly is. The insight that the Mentor Program provided me with has now led to me becoming a UGA Mentor Program Ambassador, allowing me to connect with other transfer students who may be just as lost as I was. This program has been so beneficial for my experience here at UGA, helping me to transition from feeling helpless to gaining invaluable professional and personal advice as I continue connecting with mentors in the program. While transferring schools can seem like a suffocating process, the UGA Mentor Program is a breath of fresh air.

When I first arrived at UGA as a freshman from Macon, Georgia, I was both excited and overwhelmed. The campus felt huge, the opportunities seemed endless, and the adjustment felt intimidating. I knew I wanted to get involved on campus and find guidance to help me navigate this new chapter of life. That’s when I discovered the UGA Mentor Program and it completely changed my college experience.

I joined the program as a freshman mentee and was able to connect with mentors in the veterinary medicine field, which was the career path I was most interested in pursuing. Through one-on-one mentorship sessions, I built meaningful connections with professionals who had once been in my shoes. My mentors offered advice, encouragement, and support that helped me through the challenges of my first year and beyond.

As I continued through my sophomore and junior years, I expanded my involvement through 16-week mentorships, Quick Chats for brief but impactful conversations, and Circles of Success, where I learned alongside other students and professionals. Each of these opportunities provided fresh perspectives, practical guidance, and the confidence to pursue my goals. Looking back, I realize just how life-changing the UGA Mentor Program has been. If I hadn’t joined, I would have felt lost but instead, I gained opportunities for networking, job experiences, and research, while also finding a strong community of support. Sometimes, one simple conversation with a mentor can shift your entire perspective and remind you that you’re not alone.

Now, as a senior, I’ve come full circle by serving as a UGA Mentor Program Ambassador. I’m passionate about mentorship and about helping other students connect with mentors who can guide them through their own journeys. This program has helped me grow in leadership, professionalism, and confidence, and it has prepared me to step into my next chapter after graduation. For that, I will always be thankful.

So, if you’re wondering whether the UGA Mentor Program is worth it, here’s my advice: take the leap. One conversation could change your life the way it changed mine and help you make the most of your time at UGA.

I firmly believe that mentorship and guidance play a crucial role in our lives. As humans, we often face challenging situations that leave us feeling lost and unsure of our next steps. This is where mentorship becomes invaluable. Mentors have navigated similar experiences and emerged successfully, making their advice and guidance incredibly beneficial. Learning from their experiences can save us time, effort, and unnecessary struggles.

My own journey is a testament to the power of mentorship. As an international student, I encountered a unique set of challenges—culture shock, an unfamiliar education system, and an entirely new way of life. The overwhelming nature of these changes made my first days at UGA some of the most difficult I had ever faced.

Amid this turmoil, I received an email from the UGA Mentor Program, inviting students to connect with a mentor. Feeling lost and uncertain, I decided to give it a try. Looking back, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I was paired with a wonderful mentor who understood my struggles and provided constant guidance and encouragement. Her belief in my potential helped me regain my confidence, adapt to my new environment, and embrace the changes in my life. Over time, I overcame my challenges, and life became much more manageable. Today, I can say with certainty that I am in a much better place.

As a student, you may be facing uncertainties—whether it's choosing the right major, finding internships, or searching for job opportunities. Know that there are people ready to support and guide you in the right direction. All you must do is reach out, and they will be more than willing to help.

December can be a chaotic month. As students, it’s a time filled with stress as we’re faced with final exams and projects to wrap up the semester while also dealing with the added pressure of the year coming to an end. It feels like the to-do list keeps expanding, and it’s easy for all of that to get overwhelming. Despite how overwhelming this time of year can be, I’ve found that this month is a great time to reflect and lean into mentorship as a resource to find clarity and support.

Recently, I was speaking to my mentor and like many others, I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed from my classes. I was worried about my finals, worried about studying for the LSAT, and comparing my perceived lack of success to the success of my peers. I had gotten caught in a spiral of wondering if I was doing enough—if I was moving fast enough towards my goals or if I was slowly falling behind.

In moments like these, it can be difficult to pull yourself out of that mindset. This is where mentorship becomes important. After sharing my concerns with my mentor, I initially expected her to give me tips on how to manage my time better, or things I could be doing to work towards my goals more efficiently. Instead, my mentor offered me a shift in perspective.

She made me realize that I was so busy comparing my journey to everyone else’s, that it had driven me to undermine myself. I was getting so caught up in thinking about all the things I thought I could be doing to advance towards my goals and wrap up the semester, that I was forgetting to enjoy the moment and be proud of all the things that I had accomplished so far. My mentor served as the perfect reminder that even if my path didn’t look like everyone else’s, it was still my own. It’s a simple reminder, but one every student should hear.

Our mentors have likely been through the exact same stresses that we’re going through. They’ve gone through finals season, dealt with uncertainty about the future, and felt the pressure of self-doubt. But even though it’s important, mentorship isn’t just about getting academic and career advice. It's about having someone who’s gone through what you’re going through, and that shared experience is what makes mentorship such a powerful tool.

If finals season and the end of the semester feels overwhelming, I would encourage you to reach out to your mentor and lean into their experiences. If you don’t already have a mentor, now is the perfect time to look into finding one. Remember to take a step back and reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far. Embrace where you are right now! Don’t just focus on what you have left to do or what your peers have done that you haven’t, be proud of what you’ve accomplished!

Finding out about the UGA Mentor Program and the opportunities available to me once I bought into the process has shaped the course of my undergraduate experience at The University of Georgia for the better. As a sophomore with mere concepts of an idea for what my future could look like and with uncertainty about how to progress my post-graduate plans, I created an account on the website and browsed through the search filters. I connected with my mentor due to the similarities we shared in my future aspirations and current academic path.

What I value the most about the mentorship experience and this program is the authenticity that each connection brings. In my experience, my mentor immediately recognized my personal need for guidance and took it upon herself to fulfill that role. This meant showing me all the highs of her day-to-day career while simultaneously grounding me in the realities of all the difficulties that came with her career as a lawyer as well. My mentor demonstrated vulnerability as she explained her academic regrets of not pursuing a different major during her time in college. She opened my eyes to the possibility of me also switching my major to one in Political Science, something I had always contemplated but never followed through with. Her honest advice encouraged me to not graduate college with any uncertainties about academic routes left untraveled. Mentors are readily available to connect with mentees, and by simply reaching out to one with an initial message, others too are able to discover insights about themselves and their future careers.

I am not alone in my extremely positive experience with my mentor. There is a reason why so many students feel inclined to join the UGA Mentor Program, outwardly share their experiences with others, and become Ambassadors as I later chose to. I knew that I wanted to become more involved in any way possible, and it has been an invaluable experience to promote the program to others.

In honor of the month of November being a time to express gratitude to our mentors and show thanks to the program that facilitates these connections, I would like to highlight how lucky UGA undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are to have this opportunity at their fingertips. It is rare to find a program that structures mentorship on the terms of the mentee, allowing them so much flexibility and choice in their decision to connect with a guiding figure. The professionals who are a part of the program take time out of their busy schedules in order to help guide students from a place of compassion and pure selflessness. Their willingness to give back and help others who were once in their place is what makes these connections so special. This month I give thanks to the incredible program that has helped guide my undergraduate experience, develop my professional skills, create friendships, and plan for my future.

Transferring to a new university can be a challenging experience, especially when you're entering as an upperclassman. That was my reality when I transferred to UGA from Georgia Tech as a junior. The sheer size of UGA was overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure how I would find my place. However, a chance encounter during the first week of classes helped ease my transition and opened doors I never imagined. In August of my junior year, while walking through the Tate Student Center, I came across the UGA Mentor Program booth. That’s where I met Sally Bae, who is now one of my closest friends and fellow Mentor Program Ambassadors. Sally explained the program, highlighting how it helps students connect with alumni in their respective fields. At the time, I was still exploring a career in real estate and knew that building my network would be crucial. We exchanged contact information, and from that moment, Sally became an essential part of my UGA experience.

Sally’s guidance went far beyond introducing me to the UGA Mentor Program. Having already been at UGA for over a year, she knew how to navigate the many opportunities available and helped me explore a wide variety of clubs and events on campus. Ambassadors like Sally are invaluable resources for students—especially for transfers—because they’ve experienced the transition themselves and can show others the ropes. Through her, I attended a Terry Diversity Fellow event, which ultimately led me to discover Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional fraternity. With Sally’s encouragement, I went through recruitment, joined the fraternity, and met some of my closest friends. One standout experience she introduced me to was the Women in the Workplace Dinner, hosted by the UGA Mentor Program. The event featured a panel of female UGA alumni sharing their career journeys and offering advice on how to thrive in the professional world. It was both empowering and enlightening, giving me new insight into navigating my own career path. Sally’s support in connecting me to these opportunities is exactly what I strive to do as a Mentor Program Ambassador—to help other transfer students find their place, make connections, and fully immerse themselves in the UGA experience.

Another particularly valuable experience was my participation in the "Circle of Success" program, where Charlie Williams served as my mentor. What made this experience unique was that it wasn’t just a one-on-one mentorship—it was a small group of us, all mentees, working with Charlie. He provided valuable insights into the commercial real estate field while fostering a collaborative environment where we could learn from each other. As a transfer student who didn’t know many people, this group setting was especially impactful, offering both professional guidance and the chance to connect with peers in my major.

The connections I made and the support I received inspired me to become a UGA Mentor Program Ambassador myself. I wanted to help other transfer students, like myself, find their footing at UGA and make the most of their time here. The UGA Mentor Program offers students a unique opportunity to connect with alumni who are eager to offer career advice and guidance. As an ambassador, I hope to create the same welcoming experience for others that Sally and the program provided for me.

Networking is essential, especially as a business major. The UGA Mentor Program allows students to build connections with alumni who have been in our shoes and can offer invaluable advice. I am incredibly grateful for the program’s impact on my UGA experience, and I encourage every student to take advantage of it. If I can help another transfer student feel as welcomed and supported as I did, then I know I’ve made a difference.

When I first signed up for the UGA Mentor Program during my freshman year, I felt like I needed to have my life perfectly planned out. I felt pressure to start working toward a goal I barely understood. I joined the program hoping for guidance and advice, but I ended up finding so much more. Through the mentor program, I did receive incredible guidance, but I also discovered a community of supportive and inspiring people. I reached out to my first mentor, sharing my passion for veterinary medicine and a little bit about myself. She quickly responded, excited to help, and from there our connection grew. We exchanged countless emails as I asked her everything, from how to balance work and life, to how to handle the stress of vet school, to what I could do now to prepare for success. She helped me define not only my professional goals but also my personal ones. What I looked forward to most were our monthly Zoom meetings. Despite both of our busy schedules, her working full time at a clinic and me adjusting to college life, those meetings became a special time to connect. We talked about classes, internships, and life in general. She always reminded me that as long as I stayed focused and worked hard, I could achieve my goals. Her advice grounded me and gave me confidence during stressful times. My mentor became more than just an advisor; she felt like an older sister who genuinely cared about my journey. I am more grateful for her than she probably realizes, and I hope the UGA Mentor Program continues to give others the same opportunity to build meaningful and empowering connections that I’ve experienced.

Being a grad student, it can often feel like you’re in between and balancing two communities of identity - the working world and the student experience. It is a different experience from being an undergrad, because the classes are different, the organizations are different, and the class size and demographics are different. I’m studying with more purpose and specific exposure to a specific field, with a Masters degree opening up a lot more doors. Navigating the change to graduate school can be tough, and it was for me, since I took a gap year between undergrad and grad school and took opportunities to take a break and earn some work experience and a stable income. Now, my Master’s Program in Public Health requires an Applied Practical Experience in a career field to graduate, giving me internship experiences in the real world to actively bridge my school work to career deliverables. I’m right back to being a student, and there’s a lot to navigate in preparing for what’s next. Coming back to school, with a new title and new requirements, was challenging to adapt to, and that’s where the Mentor Program became especially crucial to be in my corner.

As a graduate student, I have the opportunity to be both a mentor and a mentee, which gave me the opportunity to both learn from someone more experienced and share the experiences with a student that hasn’t been in my shoes yet. You never really do stop learning, and it is never too early or too late to be supported by mentorship. Being a mentor through the UGA Mentor Program gave me the opportunity to give back to another generation of students, where my mishaps and learning opportunities can often be lessons for them. I mentored a student transferring to UGA, and while sharing my experiences, I also learned a lot about myself and my ability to be resourceful, empathetic, and supportive to students starting on a new foot at a new school. Simultaneously, when it came to finding my own mentors, I was looking for professionals with a lot of advice for me in navigating the transition to the workforce and taking both classroom and soft skills into my job field.

I was able to join a Circles of Success with a mentor currently working in Disaster Management, Alex Boswell. She had plenty of drive to support and guide more students forward, going above and beyond to be there for us, and this was a new mentoring experience for all of us. The five students in my circle had a variety of experiences spanning different school programs, career interests, and passions but with a common theme of uncertainty about our futures. This is a tough balance to navigate, but she did an incredible job of being a lending ear and also finding us guest speakers that can meet our needs and provide evidence that she herself may not have. One of the best lessons she taught me is that a lot of people don’t end up working in a field they studied for, and it is often about the soft skills and drive you learn and the networks you build that can support your success. Additionally, it is crucial to find joy in experiences outside of campus, especially in graduate school when you might constantly have the same cohort and it is hard to branch out.

Hearing her experiences and the knowledge she has to share and meeting the network she has built has given me more reassurance in my grad school career. Rather than feeling only like I’m in the middle of two different identities, I’m beginning to navigate carving my own path and getting the most out of the experience. I have experience to share with my own mentees but still so much to learn from incredible mentors in the platform that share career interests and the route they took to get there.