Making time for the small things during uni : Surya’s mentoring journey

Surya is a recent Economics and Politics graduate who is about to start a Law Conversion course. She’s a busy person – but Surya still made time to mentor during her time at uni. We caught up with her to find out how she juggled it all, and discover what mentoring taught her that she couldn’t learn in a classroom.

Why is mentoring important to you?

I know first-hand how difficult school years can be, especially without support. I struggled with many things throughout school, and I wasn’t always ambitious or engaged. For a long time, I believed that academic success was fixed, where some people were ‘academic’ and others were not. But when a friend encouraged me to join the debate club, I realised I had the capacity to do much more.  

That experience showed me how one person’s encouragement can transform another’s confidence and outlook. Through becoming a mentor myself, I hope to help someone else realise their potential and believe in their ability to achieve more than they thought possible.

I’ve seen how much of an impact a one-to-one relationship can have. Mentoring is about having a consistent person who listens to you, encourages you and takes an interest in your life.

What drew you to volunteer with The Kids Network?

I wanted to support a young person who might feel unheard or unsure of where to turn. There were many moments in my own childhood when I wished I had a mentor figure telling me it would be okay and offering genuine advice. As a mentor, I would hope to be someone they can talk to openly, relate to, and trust to listen without judgement.

And mentoring helps me stay plugged in to around me. When I moved to London, I became increasingly aware of how easy it might be to get stuck and isolated in your own circle and routine. I wanted to have an experience that allowed me to meet someone I otherwise might never have crossed paths with and build a more meaningful, personal connection within my community.

What has been your favourite part about volunteering so far?

Seeing the progress my mentee has made. It has been so great to see him become more comfortable communicating his needs and expressing himself, especially compared with our first few sessions. Watching him gradually open up and become more confident has made me realise what a difference it makes for a child to have a mentor who’s consistently there just for them.

Mentoring also gives me a chance to step away from the seriousness of everyday life. University and work can sometimes feel heavy, whereas our sessions are a chance to just switch off, have fun in the moment and be more carefree. Whether we’re playing games, joking around or having completely random conversations, it’s refreshing to spend time with someone with a completely different perspective. For a few hours each week, I feel like I get to be a kid again.

School and mentoring are a lot to juggle. Would you say mentoring has helped you at uni?

I have just finished my undergraduate degree in Economics and Politics and will be starting a Law Conversion course this year.

One of the biggest things the programme has taught me is consistency and resilience. The programme involves showing up every week and being a constant presence in your mentee’s life, which has helped me develop a much stronger sense of commitment and reliability. Building a relationship over time has also taught me to be patient and recognise that meaningful progress comes from continuing to invest in something. I think these are skills that are incredibly relevant to both studying and any career you go into.  

Volunteering has shown me how much can be achieved through small, regular efforts, and I think that is something I will carry with me into my Law Conversion and beyond.

What about work? Has volunteering with TKN helped you build up skills for your career?

My long-term goal is to qualify as a solicitor. Volunteering with The Kids Network has reinforced how important it is to me to pursue a people-focused career with meaningful impact. Building a relationship with my mentee has strengthened my communication, empathy and adaptability. Although we have many things in common, he comes from a very different background and has had different experiences to me, which has taught me to listen carefully, understand a different perspective and adapt the way I communicate. These skills will be valuable as a solicitor and throughout my career, as I go on to work with people from many different walks of life.

What skills, experiences and values are important for a mentor?

Working with young people has helped me develop the skills needed to build trust and encourage growth as a mentor. I spent a year as an in-person maths tutor at Mathnasium, where I built strong relationships with children and saw their confidence and skills improve. I also volunteered through my university to create multi-level English lessons for refugees, which taught me to adapt my communication to different abilities and perspectives and to approach each learner with patience and understanding. Both experiences strengthened my ability to support young people in a consistent, empathetic and empowering way.

But you don’t necessarily have to have that much direct experience with children to be an effective mentor for them. My personal academic background and leadership experiences have also given me a foundation for providing academic guidance and encourage ambition more broadly. I think the most important thing is being able to call on your own life experience – whatever it is – to ignite big dreams in someone else.

What would you say to a student who’s thinking of volunteering with The Kids Network?

I was really nervous before starting, especially before my first session, but I genuinely would not let that short-term nervousness stop you from the journey you can go on.

One of my biggest worries was wondering what value I could bring considering I don’t have everything figured out myself. But I quickly realised that my mentee did not need me to have all the answers. He needed someone who would listen, have fun with him and create a safe space, and I think we are all more than capable of providing that. In fact, I think being a younger mentor can be a real strength because we were that age ourselves not too long ago and can often relate to their experiences in a unique way.

Would you recommend volunteering with The Kids Network to fellow university students?

I genuinely cannot recommend The Kids Network enough. Having done a fair amount of volunteering before, I think the programme is so truly special.  

What I have enjoyed most is being able to see the impact of the relationship directly. As a mentor, you build a relationship with one person and you watch their confidence and communication develop over time. At the same time, you grow yourself, which makes the experience feel incredibly rewarding.

The support from The Kids Network has also been great. There are so many resources available, including full training of course, and my coordinator has always been available and very understanding whenever I have needed advice or support. Regular check-ins also mean that you never feel like you are doing it alone.  

For university students in particular, I also think the time commitment works really well. One session a week is manageable alongside a degree, and the mentee also being on a school timetable means sessions fit naturally around classes. It is genuinely an experience I would recommend to anyone, and I am already sad that it will eventually come to an end!