07/09/2026
*WHY MENTORSHIP IS IMPORTANT AMONG UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES*
*By Andanyi Humphrey Blessings*
*Founder and President/CEO, PMAK – Peer Mentors Association of Kenya*
Education is one of the greatest investments a young person can make in life. Every year, thousands of young people join universities and colleges with dreams, ambitions, talents, and expectations for a better future. They arrive on campus hoping to graduate, find meaningful careers, build successful businesses, and become responsible members of society. However, the journey through higher education is not always easy. Many students arrive with dreams but without direction. They have ambition but lack guidance. They have intelligence but sometimes lack wisdom. They have opportunities around them but do not know how to identify or utilize them.
This is why mentorship is not a luxury in universities and colleges. *Mentorship is a necessity.*
As the Founder and President/CEO of the Peer Mentors Association of Kenya (PMAK), I strongly believe that mentorship has the power to transform not only individual students but also entire institutions, communities, and generations. A student who receives proper guidance today can become a responsible leader tomorrow. A student who is encouraged not to give up can become an inspiration to thousands. A student who is exposed to opportunities can discover a future that they never imagined possible.
Research on higher education consistently shows that meaningful mentoring relationships can support students academically, socially, personally, and professionally. Mentorship has also been associated with greater persistence, stronger career development, and improved adjustment to college life.
*UNIVERSITY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT GETTING A DEGREE*
One of the greatest mistakes many young people make is believing that university education is only about attending classes, passing examinations, and graduating with a certificate. While academic excellence is extremely important, education is much broader than the classroom.
University is a place where young people discover themselves.
It is a place where they begin making independent decisions. It is where many students encounter people from different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles. It is where they begin to think seriously about relationships, careers, leadership, finances, entrepreneurship, and their future.
Unfortunately, freedom without guidance can become dangerous.
A young person who has suddenly gained independence may make decisions that affect the rest of their life. Some students lose focus because of negative peer pressure. Some become involved in destructive relationships. Others misuse their time and opportunities. Some abandon their dreams because they experience failure for the first time and do not know how to recover.
Many students are not failures because they lack ability. Sometimes, they simply lack someone to tell them:
*"You are capable."*
*"Do not give up."*
*"You are making a mistake; change your direction."*
*"There is another opportunity ahead of you."*
*"Your current situation is not your final destination."*
That is the power of mentorship.
*MENTORSHIP PROVIDES DIRECTION*
One of the greatest challenges facing many university and college students is confusion about the future.
A student may spend several years pursuing a degree but still not understand the opportunities available in their field. Another student may have great talent in entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, research, sports, or creativity but never discover it because nobody helped them identify their potential.
A mentor can help a student see beyond their current circumstances.
A mentor does not necessarily have all the answers. However, a good mentor has experience, wisdom, networks, knowledge, and a genuine desire to see another person succeed. Mentorship helps students ask important questions about their lives:
Who am I?
What are my strengths?
What do I want to become?
What skills do I need?
Who should I connect with?
What opportunities should I pursue?
What mistakes should I avoid?
How can I prepare for life after graduation?
These questions are extremely important because the direction of a person's life is often influenced by the quality of the decisions they make.
A student with direction can achieve much more than a student with intelligence but no clear vision.
*MENTORSHIP HELPS STUDENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS*
Young people make some of the most important decisions of their lives while in university or college.
They choose friends.
They choose relationships.
They make financial decisions.
They make career decisions.
They decide how to spend their time.
They choose whether to develop themselves or remain comfortable.
They decide whether to become leaders or followers.
The problem is that many students are making these decisions without sufficient guidance.
Mentorship creates a safe environment where young people can learn from the experiences of others. Instead of learning every lesson through painful mistakes, a student can learn from someone who has already travelled the road ahead.
This does not mean that mentors should control the lives of students. True mentorship empowers people to think, make responsible decisions, and become independent. A mentor should not create dependence. A mentor should create capacity.
The greatest mentor is not the one who makes a student follow them forever.
The greatest mentor is the one who helps a student become confident enough to lead themselves and eventually mentor others.
*PEER MENTORSHIP IS ESPECIALLY POWERFUL*
At PMAK, we strongly believe in the power of peer mentorship.
Sometimes a student may find it easier to speak to another student who understands their environment, struggles, and experiences. A senior student who has successfully navigated university life can provide practical guidance to a first-year student.
They can explain:
How to manage academic pressure.
How to choose good friends.
How to avoid negative influences.
How to find internships and scholarships.
How to manage time.
How to develop leadership skills.
How to prepare a professional CV.
How to discover opportunities.
How to build networks.
How to balance academics and personal development.
Peer mentors can become living examples of what is possible.
When a first-year student sees another student succeeding through discipline, hard work, leadership, entrepreneurship, research, or community service, they begin to believe that they can also succeed.
Students influence students.
This is why peer leadership and peer mentorship have become increasingly important in higher education. Research and higher-education practice recognize that peer mentors can positively influence students' adjustment, habits, and success both inside and outside the classroom.
*MENTORSHIP BUILDS CONFIDENCE*
Many talented young people are suffering from self-doubt.
They compare themselves with others.
They believe they are not intelligent enough.
They think their background limits their future.
They fear failure.
They are afraid of applying for opportunities.
They are afraid of leadership.
They believe success belongs to other people.
A good mentor can help a student see what they cannot yet see in themselves.
Sometimes all a person needs is someone to believe in them before they learn to believe in themselves.
Confidence does not mean believing that you are perfect. Confidence means believing that you can learn, grow, improve, and overcome challenges.
Through mentorship, students can learn that failure is not the end of the journey. Failure can become a lesson. Rejection can become redirection. Difficulties can become opportunities for growth.
A mentor helps students develop resilience.
And resilience is one of the most important qualities young people need in today's world.
*MENTORSHIP CONNECTS STUDENTS TO OPPORTUNITIES*
There are many opportunities available to young people today, but unfortunately, not every student knows where to find them.
There are scholarships.
Internships.
Research opportunities.
Fellowships.
Leadership programs.
Entrepreneurship programs.
Volunteer opportunities.
Professional networks.
Competitions.
Training programs.
Exchange programs.
Job opportunities.
Business opportunities.
The problem is not always the absence of opportunities. Sometimes the problem is the absence of information and guidance.
A mentor can connect students with people, organizations, programs, and opportunities that can transform their lives.
This is one reason mentorship must go beyond motivational speeches.
Young people need practical guidance.
They need someone to help them prepare.
They need someone to review their CV.
They need someone to encourage them to apply.
They need someone to teach them how to communicate professionally.
They need someone to help them prepare for interviews.
They need someone to expose them to the real world.
Studies of university mentoring programs have found benefits in areas such as career support, networking, job-search confidence, and a stronger sense of connection to the institution.
*MENTORSHIP DEVELOPS LEADERS*
Our universities and colleges are producing the future leaders of our communities, organizations, businesses, governments, and nations.
However, leadership is not developed automatically.
A person can be highly educated but lack leadership skills.
A person can have a degree but lack emotional intelligence.
A person can be intelligent but unable to work with others.
A person can have great ideas but lack discipline.
Mentorship helps develop leadership character.
A good mentor teaches students about responsibility, integrity, discipline, communication, teamwork, humility, and service.
Leadership is not about having a title.
Leadership is about influence.
It is about responsibility.
It is about serving others.
It is about making difficult decisions.
It is about helping others become better.
A student who learns these values early in life can become a leader who transforms society.
Research has also linked mentoring experiences with positive leadership development among college students, showing that both the mentoring process and the type of mentor can influence leadership capacity.
*MENTORSHIP CAN HELP PREVENT DESTRUCTIVE CHOICES*
We must also be honest about the challenges facing young people in universities and colleges.
Some students struggle with loneliness.
Some experience academic pressure.
Some face financial difficulties.
Some become victims of manipulation.
Some are influenced by destructive friendships.
Some lose hope.
Some struggle silently because they believe nobody understands them.
Mentorship creates relationships.
And relationships can save lives.
When students have responsible mentors and positive communities around them, they are more likely to have someone they can talk to when facing challenges.
A mentor may notice changes in a student's behavior.
A mentor may encourage a student who is losing hope.
A mentor may connect a student with appropriate professional support or institutional resources when necessary.
We must create campuses where students do not feel alone.
A university should not simply be a collection of classrooms and buildings.
It should be a community.
A community where people care about one another.
A community where experienced people guide those who are beginning their journey.
A community where success is shared.
*MENTORSHIP CREATES A CULTURE OF GIVING BACK*
One of the greatest principles of PMAK is that mentorship should multiply.
A student who has been mentored should eventually mentor someone else.
This creates a powerful cycle.
One mentor helps ten students.
Those ten students help one hundred others.
Those one hundred students influence communities.
Eventually, an entire generation begins to change.
This is how transformation happens.
Not only through policies.
Not only through institutions.
But through people intentionally investing in other people.
Imagine every university student mentoring one younger student.
Imagine every successful graduate returning to guide students.
Imagine professionals opening doors for young people.
Imagine universities creating strong mentorship programs.
Imagine students sharing opportunities instead of hiding them.
Imagine a generation that understands that success is not complete until others are also empowered.
That is the generation we need.
*THE ROLE OF PMAK*
The Peer Mentors Association of Kenya was founded on the belief that young people have incredible potential.
However, potential without guidance can remain undiscovered.
Talent without discipline can be wasted.
Education without character can become dangerous.
Opportunities without preparation can be lost.
That is why mentorship must be intentional.
At PMAK, we believe in creating platforms where young people can receive guidance, develop leadership skills, discover opportunities, build networks, and become responsible members of society.
We believe that mentorship should address the whole person.
Academic development.
Career development.
Leadership development.
Personal development.
Entrepreneurship.
Community service.
Character development.
Life skills.
Opportunity awareness.
Our mission should not simply be to help students graduate.
Our mission should be to help them become prepared for life.
A certificate can open a door.
But character will determine whether you remain in the room.
Knowledge can give you an opportunity.
But wisdom will help you use it correctly.
Talent can attract attention.
But discipline will sustain success.
This is why mentorship matters.
*A CALL TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES*
I believe universities and colleges must take mentorship seriously.
Mentorship should not be an occasional event.
It should not only happen during orientation.
It should not be limited to one motivational speaker visiting a campus once a year.
Mentorship should become part of the culture of higher education.
Institutions should create opportunities for:
* First-year students to receive guidance from experienced students.
* Students to connect with professionals in their career fields.
* Young leaders to receive leadership development.
* Students to access career and entrepreneurship guidance.
* Alumni to mentor current students.
* Students to learn about scholarships, internships, and other opportunities.
* Peer mentors to receive proper training.
* Students to develop strong values and responsible decision-making skills.
Evidence from higher education research supports making mentoring more intentional and accessible, rather than leaving students to find meaningful guidance purely by chance.
*MY MESSAGE TO EVERY UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENT*
To every student reading this article, I want you to remember something:
*You do not have to walk through life alone.*
Find people who inspire you.
Find people who challenge you.
Find people who correct you with love.
Find people who believe in your dreams.
Find people who have travelled the road you want to travel.
Learn from them.
Ask questions.
Listen.
Grow.
But remember that mentorship is not about finding someone who will do everything for you.
You must also take responsibility for your life.
You must study.
You must develop skills.
You must manage your time.
You must be disciplined.
You must be willing to learn.
You must apply the advice you receive.
A mentor can show you the door.
But you must be willing to walk through it.
A mentor can show you the road.
But you must be willing to take the journey.
A mentor can believe in you.
But eventually, you must also believe in yourself.
*CONCLUSION: WE MUST MENTOR THIS GENERATION*
The future of our society is sitting in our universities and colleges today.
The future entrepreneur is in a classroom.
The future scientist is in a laboratory.
The future teacher is attending a lecture.
The future president is participating in a student organization.
The future innovator is working on an idea in a hostel room.
The future community leader is currently wondering whether their dreams are possible.
We cannot afford to ignore them.
We must guide them.
We must challenge them.
We must encourage them.
We must expose them to opportunities.
We must teach them to believe in themselves.
We must teach them to believe in something bigger than themselves.
And most importantly, we must teach them to help others.
Mentorship is not simply about creating successful individuals.
*It is about creating responsible generations.*
It is about ensuring that young people do not only ask, *“How can I succeed?”*
But also ask:
*“How can I help someone else succeed?”*
As the Founder and President/CEO of PMAK, my belief remains strong:
Every young person deserves guidance.
Every dream deserves direction.
Every talent deserves an opportunity.
Every student deserves someone who believes in them.
If we mentor our students today, they will lead our world tomorrow.
If we guide their minds, we will shape their decisions.
If we build their character, we will strengthen our communities.
If we expose them to opportunities, we will expand their possibilities.
And if we teach them to mentor others, we will create a generation that continues transforming generations yet to come.
*Mentorship is not just important.*
*Mentorship is an investment in the future.*
*"A generation that is guided today becomes a generation capable of guiding the world tomorrow."*
*Share widely*
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