The John V. Roach Honors College prides itself in creating a close-knit community among our faculty, staff and, most importantly, our students. To foster more student-to-student connections, the Honors Cabinet developed the Honors Mentor Program in fall 2022. Grayson Garcia ’26 is a first-year student majoring in marketing. We talked with her about her experience as a mentee in the program.
Why did you apply to get a mentor?
I entered TCU as a communication major, but I knew that, eventually, I’d want to switch to business. TCU’s business program is very competitive, you have to apply and then go through a separate application process. I didn’t have the same guidance as some of my peers. I thought if the Honors College is giving me the opportunity to get a mentor, then maybe I can get some guidance through them.
What is one thing you have learned from your mentor?
Get involved on campus. My mentor, Kendall, is involved in so many different things. I don’t know how she has the time for everything; she’s someone I look up to. She holds many leadership positions and inspires me to want to do the same.
Share a memory with your mentor.
One thing that I’ve made sure to take advantage of is Kendall’s kitchen. There is no way to make pasta in my residence hall, so one night I went over, and we made pasta. Little things like that remind me of home because I would make pasta daily. Some of my best memories with Kendall are the day-to-day things like going to the bookstore for coffee and simply hanging out.
How does the mentorship program enrich your Honors/TCU experience?
It gets me connected to some of the upper-class students in Honors and other people that I wouldn’t be connected to otherwise. When talking within our small groups, I can learn about the different experiences they’ve all had in college so far.
How does this build community in the Honors College?
I think the small groups within the program are like a grapevine. Through Kendall, I’ve gotten to know her roommate, and Kendall has gotten to know a couple of my friends, bringing us all together and expanding our circles.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I just love Kendall! I have friends that have become close with their mentors, so it’s not just Kendall and me. Lots of other students have been able to build these connections.
Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.