CoN iLead Program

Description

The College of Nursing (CoN) sponsors a mentorship program, titled "iLead," for first-year nursing students. Through this Program, each freshman learning community is assigned a sophomore, junior, and senior CoN mentor. Each iLead family meets on a weekly basis to address a variety of academic, social, and mental topics with the ultimate goal of promoting acclimation and retention of these future nurse leaders. During the 2023-24 school year, I had the pleasure of serving as a sophomore mentor. 

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Reflection

My primary motivation for applying to be an iLead mentor was rooted in my freshman experience. As the only Black student in my learning community, I often felt isolated which affected my academic performance due to this being the group of students I was with for every class and was encouraged to study with. However, my sophomore iLead mentor was always intentional about being both a personal and academic resource to me. Her compassion and sincerity sparked my desire to provide this to future students. Now, a year later, the lens of a mentor has gifted me a newfound appreciation and love for the iLead Program. I had a group of 20 students and with each week I got to see their growth firsthand. Whether it was exceptional performance on an exam after weeks of diligent preparation, joining their dream sorority/fraternity, making new friends from spontaneous weekend plans, or discovering themselves separate from their family/home identity - it was one of the most rewarding experiences. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy learning more about my students and witnessing their growth, all of them genuinely wanted to get to know me as well and wanted my insight as someone who was just in their position a year prior. They soaked in all my tips, tricks, and advice with such gratitude and always had more questions, which I loved. At times, I feel as though I learned as much as them by listening to the junior and senior mentors in our group. I was able to gain lots of valuable gems from their insight that will help me as I continue to matriculate through school. Being an iLead mentor is a three-year commitment, so I am excited to be returning as a junior mentor and welcoming one of my freshman mentees as our sophomore mentor! I am equally elated to witness the continued growth of all my mentees. Their sophomore year holds so many treasures: a white coat ceremony, amazing professors, and their first clinical rotation. All of them are so smart and capable, so I look forward to cheering them on from afar and hopefully seeing them in Proctor Hall from time to time. 

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Impact

This experience has deepened my love of mentorship from both perspectives. As someone who has been a mentee and mentor, each is equally rewarding; especially in the context of nursing school. I credit a lot of the success I have had in school so far to mentors I have both in and outside the nursing profession. Their insight, support, and empowerment remind me that the storms of nursing school water the garden of my testimony as well as a lifetime of pouring into others. Moving forward, I aim to find new ways to maximize the gift of mentorship by giving my all in whatever role I show up in. 

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"We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give." ~Vernon Jordan