Story by Amy Krazl, Contributing writer
Graphic by Savannah Walton/The News
Next month, Talent Search is launching a new initiative in the mentoring branch of the program.
College students are now being requested as volunteers to become peer mentors for college-pursuing middle school students accepted into the program.
Madea Erikson, co-head of the initiative, predicts that pairing a middle school and college student together will foster a closer connection between mentor and mentee.
Talent Search is a federally funded university service, primarily designed for first generation college students or those in lower income households.
The program provides tutorial services, career exploration, aptitude assessments, counseling, workshops, and more, according to Murray State’s website.
Erikson said she believes the connection between an adult mentor and a middle schooler is simply not as close as one between a middle schooler and a college student.
“I think [adult mentors] are good; it’s just that students perceive them as not being relatable,” Erickson said. “So they are going to bond with someone closer to their age for the mere fact that just a few years ago, [the college students] were in their position.”
Research supports this fact that mentor and mentee share a closer bond when closer in age.
According to “An Examination of the Role of Age in Mentoring Relationships” by Allen, et. al.,“Protégés express the belief that similar life experiences [are] an advantage to similar-age mentorships… Other common responses [are] that similar-age mentorships provide good opportunities for learning and for relationship building.”
College volunteers will communicate with their mentee via Canvas in order to answer questions and support them in any way possible through the college preparation process.
There will also be two opportunities to meet face to face: at the beginning and at the end of the student’s college search. The first meeting will be a kick-off event that will include a catered dinner.
“This could be a great opportunity to form a physical connection between mentor and mentee, putting a face to a name before communicating online,” Erikson said.
Volunteers also earn service hours for their time and commitment. One training workshop is required.
For inquiries, visit the main office at 256 Blackburn Science Building or call 270-809-3526.