Mentorship: A lifeline for students navigating college challenges

by Sophia Raad

Ryan Thompson sat in her dorm, staring at the 1.4 GPA on her student portal.

She felt stuck, overwhelmed, and uncertain if college was even the right path for her. She knew she needed a change but didn’t know where to start. 

But mandatory mentorship and academic support helped her build better habits, find a support system, and turn her grades around.

“Stay on top of my stuff. Don’t drink. I literally had a 1.4 GPA. Now I have a 3.1, so it is possible to turn it around,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s story is one of many at the College of Charleston, where peer mentorship programs are helping students navigate the challenges of higher education. 

From academic struggles to personal growth, mentorship is proving to be a game-changer for students who might otherwise slip through the cracks.

“A true mentor doesn’t need a title. You don’t need a school to declare you a mentor—you just need to be willing to listen and help,” said Chip Ice, an Academic Success Mentor. “The only reason I took this job is to have access to students who need help. Hopefully, people who see this will realize they can be that support for someone else too.”

Stories of growth

For many students, mentorship is about connection. 

Rhiannon Aurora, a student mentor, has seen firsthand how guidance can impact someone’s academic journey.

“One of my students struggled with test-taking anxiety,” she said. “I suggested he ask his professors for old tests or study guides and to study with friends to get comfortable in that environment. Over time, he started to see improvement in his test scores, and his confidence grew.”

Academic challenges are just one part of the equation. Social struggles can be just as significant. 

“One student I worked with had a 0.9 GPA. They were a straight-A student in high school, but college was overwhelming,” Hailey Brancato said. “They struggled to make friends and felt isolated. I encouraged them to join campus clubs, especially club sports, and that helped them build connections. Through mentorship, they improved academically and found a sense of belonging.”

Brancato shared another story of a student who was close to dropping out. 

“They didn’t feel like they belonged here. I reminded them that college isn’t just about academics—it’s about growing as a person,” she added. “They started going to events, meeting new people, and eventually, they found their place.”

Mentorship also provides students with critical life skills. 

“Mentorship has taught me how to effectively tutor and give constructive criticism,” Julia Neinmark said. “Public speaking is a required skill in any profession. If you can speak confidently in class, you’ll be able to do it in any professional setting.”

For some, the most valuable lesson is simply learning how to manage time and responsibilities. 

“Many students struggle with planning their workload, so I start with small steps,” Brancato said. “Creating structure can be overwhelming, so I encourage them to break it down. Small successes build confidence.”

Thompson, who once felt lost, now knows the power of structure and self-discipline.

“I literally had a 1.4 GPA. Now I have a 3.1, so it is possible to turn it around,” she said. “If you stay on top of your stuff and do things early, it’s so much easier. No one feels like doing homework, but you have to. You just have to get that mindset.”

For many students, mentorship means having a trusted guide who can push them toward personal and academic growth. 

“One of my students was really eager to do better,” Aurora said. “We would meet outside of our scheduled meetings, and I would help him fill out his planner and keep himself organized. We’d do fun little activities, and he made it fun. That’s a really good trait to have in that position—to try and look at it as positively as you can and make each moment into something engaging.”

Ice believes that self-awareness is key to student success. 

“Short-term, self-awareness is the biggest game-changer,” he said. “If a student can admit they’re not managing their time well, that’s a huge first step. You can’t just tell them that, though—they have to come to that realization themselves.”

Aurora echoed this sentiment, saying that mentorship is not about giving students the answers but guiding them toward finding their own solutions. 

“It’s about asking the right questions and helping them recognize what they need to do,” she said. “When they figure it out for themselves, it sticks.”

The impact of mentorship at the College of Charleston extends beyond grades. 

It builds confidence, fosters relationships, and creates a support system for students who need it most. 

“Students aren’t just students—they’re whole people,” Ice said. “If something is wrong in their personal life, it affects their academic performance. When you support them as a person, you help them succeed in all areas of their life.”

Thompson, now on the other side of her struggles, hopes to one day help others the way she was helped.

“It made all the difference,” she said. “Sometimes, you just need someone to believe in you before you believe in yourself.”