03.07.2023

What advice would you give your future self? Young people from Tower Hamlets get mentored by the Pros

In September 2022 we launched a mentoring programme for young people on our Youth Empowerment Board (YEB) to receive professional mentoring support.

A mentor is a trusted professional who can help young people build skills and knowledge. Mentees learn about the world of work and make inspired decisions about their future careers.

Hear from Caroline Murray (Project Manager Poplar HARCA) and Irini (Sixth Form student on the YEB) who were paired as mentor and mentee, they chat about first impressions, their shared passions for reading, and what they both learnt from each other.

Your first impressions of each other in 3 words

Irini:

Patient- I talk a lot, interactive and supportive.

Caroline:

Bright, focused, pro-active.

What were you hoping to get out of this mentoring experience?

Irini:

I was hoping to receive guidance and advice, particularly when it came to my university options, subject choices and especially my personal statement. I strongly believe I have received all the help I needed from Caroline. For instance, she provided me with detailed feedback for my personal statement which was incredibly helpful and arguably more useful than my teachers as she provided ways I can rephrase or tweak my sentences or even recommend ideas to explore. As a result, I felt very confident to send it off.

Caroline:

I was keen to learn more about our Youth Empowerment Board, particularly the perspectives, interests and views of young people who make up this group. My role in the Accents team is quite externally focused, working with communities and local organisations across Poplar. However, I haven’t worked directly with local young people as much, so this was a great opportunity to do that whilst also sharing my skills and experience.

One fact you learned about each other?

Irini:

She is an avid reader just like me although unlike me, she doesn’t confine herself to one genre but likes to explore different types of novels and concepts.

Caroline:

Irini speaks multiple languages! Greek, Bengali, Hindi and learnt English when she moved to the UK a few years ago and now is learning French in her spare time.

Your Words of wisdom you’d like to share for anyone else taking part in future mentoring programmes.

Irini:

I turned to Caroline’s guidance and knowledge to help me make decisions. She asked her friend who studied English Literature with French what they liked and disliked about their degree and my decision to study English Literature with French was greatly influenced by the information I received. However, I later changed my degree option as I realised I needed an A-Level in French. Nonetheless, it was still very useful. Overall, it was a transformative experience as her pieces of advice enhanced my ability to make decisions with more confidence. I also gained a valuable friend!

(Mentor and Mentee, Irini (left) and Caroline Murray (right) at Spotlight.)

Caroline:

Spend time getting to know each other more broadly, particularly at the beginning. It can be tempting to jump into immediate problem solving or offering advice, you want to be a useful mentor after all! However, taking time and being open in discussions allows for deeper conversations and reflections to emerge. Also check in regularly about whether what is being discussed is helpful and encourage your mentee to be honest with their feedback.

What is one thing you got from this mentoring experience?

Irini:

• Be open-minded: As a mentee, be receptive to feedback, advice, and suggestions from your mentor. They have more experience than you, so their insights can be valuable.
• Communicate: Be open and honest with your mentor, and make sure to listen actively to their feedback. Be proactive in seeking out information and opportunities for growth by asking them many questions.
• Stay committed and express your gratitude to your mentor for their time and effort!

Caroline:

It’s made me reflect a lot on my career trajectory to date, something which I wasn’t expecting but has been interesting and useful. Irini was very curious to hear how I made decisions around my choice of university, how I navigated entering the world of work and the significant moments which led to what I do now. She’s given me a healthy reminder to be open to opportunities and the possibilities they hold – you never truly know where something might lead.

What advice would you like to give to your future self?

Irini:

You only live once. Live your life to the fullest. Also, love, challenge and believe in yourself.

Caroline:

Don’t forget that you never know where an opportunity or experience might take you. Be curious and open to trying things – learning never stops.

Thank you to both Caroline and Irini for sharing their mentoring journey with us.

In incredible news Irini is happy to share she’s received a dream offer to study at Kings College London University. Well done and so pleased to see such a positive step towards your future!

What is the Youth Empowerment Board?

“As well as providing local young people with the opportunity to have their voices heard by decision makers in Tower Hamlets, being on the YEB provides many direct professional development opportunities. The mentoring programme is just one example of this. We’ve also seen that it gives Poplar HARCA staff members the opportunity to learn about the community here on a deeper level.”

Katy Thompson – Spotlight Youth Empowerment Coordinator

To find out more about opportunities for young people to reach their goals and get inspired see Spotlight’s current free programmes here: Get Inspired | Spotlight (wearespotlight.com)