This semester changed how I see my future. Mentoring through the Emerging Leaders Program at Binghamton University pushed me to think seriously about the kind of work I want to do and the kind of leader I want to become. With two of my close friends coming into our freshman fall semester as mentees, I already knew the program made an impact. A light definition for those who don’t know is that it’s a selective program for first-semester students at Binghamton to create a community service project in a specific category aka “knowledge community” (ie. Sports, Recreation, and Wellness or Arts and Humanities) and build leadership skills throughout the process.
What Mentoring Taught Me
Working with my knowledge community (KC) of Sports, Rec, and Wellness (SRW), facitiating my group of 12 mentees gave me insight into skills I naturally lean toward and the ones I want to strengthen.
Some of the biggest lessons came from moments where I had to:
- Guide through uncertainty
Helping new students adjust and come to ideas on their own with a little nudge showed me how much I enjoy supporting people during transitions
- Build trust and communicate clearly
Weekly team meetings and early one-on-one check-ins definitely taught me how important consistency is and to be as open with my mentees as I want them to be with me. Leading be example essentially – or Modeling the Way (one of our 5 leadership practices that we learn as mentors in our class)
- Create structure from nothing
Planning activities, weekly meeting agendas, and setting goals helped me understand how to break big ideas into manageable steps
- Collaborate with other mentors
I learned valuable teamwork is in any education or community-based role even if us mentors weren’t the ones directly working on our mentees projects. For us the project was them. So talking to my co-mentor through challenges and navigating uncertainty and thinking forward during our mentor class, using others ideas, seeing what fails and what succeeds, was so helpful for me as a leader
I have learned so many tangible practices I can take from this as I climb the career ladder. These experiences helped me understand the kind of environment I want to work in: one that is people-focused, purposeful, and built around growth.
How to Get the Most Out of Programs like Emerging Leaders
Mentoring this semester taught me a lot about myself, but it also showed me patterns that could help anyone trying to grow in this cluster. Whether someone joins Emerging Leaders (ELP) as a mentee or mentor (or both!!), or just wants to strengthen their skills, a few simple practices can make a huge difference.
Here are the biggest takeaways I would pass on to anyone starting their own journey:
- Lean Into Relationships
Almost everything in this career cluster comes down to people. Build connections early, stay consistent, and show up with intention. Whether you’re supporting new students or working with a team, relationships are the foundation for any real impact.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Programs like ELP gives you access to mentors, peers, and staff who have walked the same path.
Ask things like:
- How did you adjust to campus?
- What helped you stay organized?
- What leadership roles led you here or helped your career?
Asking questions doesn’t make you unprepared. It makes you engaged.
- Try Roles That Push You Out of Your Comfort Zone
Growth happens when you step into work that feels a little scary and new. Maybe that means leading a meeting, planning an event, or helping someone through a challenge. Those small moments teach you skills you’ll use everywhere, from student affairs to nonprofit work.
- Notice What Comes Naturally
You learn a lot about yourself when you’re responsible for supporting others.
Pay attention to things like:
- What tasks energize you
- What conversations feel easy
- What leadership style feels honest to you
These signals can point you toward roles in advising, community outreach, teaching, mentoring, or program development.
- Look for Chances to Practice Leadership in Real Time
The best way to build confidence is to practice in spaces where mistakes are part of the learning process. Programs like ELP are perfect for that. If someone leads a meeting that feels messy or awkward, that’s not failure. That’s training. If a conversation with a mentee doesn’t go perfectly, that’s experience. Leadership grows through repetition, not perfecton.
- Use Campus Resources That Support This Career Cluster
For anyone interested in education or social impact, places like the Fleishman Center offer workshops, panels, and networking events that match the skills explored in ELP too. Taking advantage of these resources helps you learn the professional side of the work.
- Reflect After Every Experience
One thing I learned as a mentor is how powerful reflection can be, especially after writing one every week about our KC meetings. A few short questions can help anyone grow faster:
- What did I learn?
- What challenged me?
- What moment made me proud?
- What would I try differently next time?
Reflection turns everyday experiences into long-term skills.
Taking time to look back on each experience is what turns a semester into real growth. Programs like ELP give you the space to test yourself, support others, and understand what kind of impact you want to make. Whether you join as a mentee or step up as a mentor, there’s always something to learn. And the more you pay attention to those moments, the easier it becomes to find your place and move with confidence toward whatever comes next.
