Mentees

"My mentor was fantastic! She understood me so well. Through SAMI, I found a great source of guidance, a colleague and a lifelong friend."
~ Mariam, 2007 SAMI Mentee

The Mentee Experience:

Harvard's SAMI program pairs students with HGSE alumni for personal and professional development. Each pair will be unique and each participant should be thoughtful about their hopes and expectations for embarking in a mentoring relationship. Becoming involved with a mentor is a significant commitment, one to be approached with an open mind, a willingness to learn and to challenge preconceived notions, and a desire to share and give back. Effective mentees are eager to establish and maintain a close relationship with someone who has a significant amount to offer. Mentees will learn a great deal from their mentors, learning that may apply to academics, future career goals, or personal life. The most rewarding relationships are mutually beneficial. SAMI mentors have chosen to join the program because they hope to share their perspective and experiences with others, yet they do expect to learn from you. Whether it is from your unique life experiences, your technological expertise, or interesting ideas generated from your conversations together, they too will grow as a part of this relationship.

Mentee Responsibilities:

The SAMI program involves commitment to regular and consistent communication, either in person or by telephone or e-mail. (Please note-this will now be a requirement for participating in the program.) In addition to the time involved, it will also require a willingness to share various aspects of your HGSE experience, a curiosity about another's perspective, and a commitment to making the relationship work. It often takes initiative to get to know another person, even if you have been matched with someone with common interests. It is important to take the time to establish trust, develop rapport, and to get to know one another.

In addition to the one-on-one meetings you will have during the year, there will also be several SAMI events for program participants. Beginning with an Orientation/Kickoff event and continuing quarterly throughout the year, events will be held for both mentees and mentors, which you are asked to attend.