The John V. Roach Honors College prides itself in creating a close-knit community among our faculty, staff and, most importantly, our students. In order to foster more student-to-student connections, the Honors Cabinet developed the new Honors Mentor Program in fall 2022. Kendall McCarthy ’24 is double majoring in strategic communication and French. We talked with her about her experience as a mentor in the program.
Why did you decide to become a mentor?
I started at TCU during the pandemic, and I saw the need for the mentor program because it was difficult to make connections during COVID. I also had a mentor, Brooke, through the organization Leaders for Life. It was great to have an older student as a resource in my first two years of college. I loved hanging out with my mentor, and I wanted to be that for someone else. Also, the Honors College has unique classes and programs, but it can be difficult to navigate your first year. I knew as a mentor I could help first-year students navigate the curriculum.
What is one thing you have learned as a mentor?
I have learned a lot. First of all, I have a view into how TCU has changed since I’ve been here. I guess I don’t always notice it, but when I talk to Grayson, my mentee, I hear how she’s experiencing TCU. I reflect on how far I’ve come because she will tell me about how she is feeling during her first year, and I’ll tell her I felt that way too. Then, I can share with her how I made friends and got involved. It’s great to give back and make someone feel how Brooke make me feel.
What is one thing you have learned from your mentee?
I have learned about working through tricky relationships. It was nice to know the resources I could give Grayson to help. I listened to how she navigated the difficult situation with such kindness, and it gave me new insights on how to deal with difficult scenarios like that.
Share a memory made with your mentee.
So many! We usually go get coffee somewhere, but our last meeting of the semester I invited her over to my apartment. We made pasta, and that was a lot of fun. Grayson shared her holiday plans and how she’s grown this semester, and I did the same back with her. In March, we are also going to see Sabrina Carpenter together, and I can’t wait to make more memories next semester.
How does the mentorship program enrich your Honors and TCU experience?
I think being able to stay connected to first-year students and the Honors College. As a junior, this was a big transition year for me to move off campus. It can be a disconnecting feeling to not physically be on campus anymore. So, I really liked hearing about things happening on campus from Grayson or things that I liked to do my first year that she gets to experience now.
How does this build community in the Honors College?
It’s nice to have someone older than you in the Honors College to talk to. Even though your experiences won’t be the exact same, you share the Honors College as a commonality. Your first year is a really great time to dig into the community and get connected, so then you have a larger network once you move off campus to keep you coming back.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am really thankful for this program. Somehow, Grayson and I were paired together perfectly, and I am really excited to see where this friendship goes in the next few years. I feel like I have a friend for life!
Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.