Category: WSG Mentoring Scheme

From our first ‘meeting’ over a slightly shaky Facetime, I remember Clare and I slipped easily into free and energic conversation. As Clare mentions, this felt more like a partnership; there was no pressure here to be tested or assessed: our conversations were about ideas. Of course, we were both mindful of wanting to set goals for the sessions, but much of what Clare wanted was the chance to explore where she was in her project. Clare’s comments also remind me of my teaching; it has been over six years since I last taught at university and I always enjoyed collaborative learning. With Clare, not only did it revive the feelings of excitement over students discovering and generating ideas, but it also energised me in terms of my research. Discussing her material, asking questions and finding connections together has really brightened my thinking about an ongoing project. Clare’s enthusiasm has been inspiring and now I have some new reading to pursue.

The financial pressures of university life and the ever-increasing demand for postgraduate students to publish, promote themselves and secure funding is, potentially, overwhelming. What struck me about Clare is that, out of all these pressures, she retains the love and passion for her subject matter. Part of the ‘unwritten rules’ of academia, namely how to interact with academics, particularly senior ones, I think, is about a healthy combination of confidence and respect, and a commitment to the subject; all of which Clare has in abundance. We should feel comfortable to engage with academics whatever level or place we are from and WSG has always been a space that I have been made to feel welcome and open to share and develop knowledge. Networks such as WSG are an essential part of developing research. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Clare and I look forward to seeing her progress and flourish in her field.

I have found the midpoint of a PhD a dangerous no-man’s land. Far enough away from the start to have lost the initial enthusiasm and naïve optimism, and too far from the end of the marathon to take advantage of the ‘last push’ energy that carries many of us through. In that lull of second year, I searched for some sort of guidance or programme that might allow me to find a way through, and found the WSG mentoring scheme. Given how busy my supervisors were – both on research leave – this seemed a good way of marking my progress and of getting guidance.

I was quickly assigned Vicki as a mentor, and have since found our meetings incredibly affirming and helpful. Removed from the formal setting of the traditional supervisor-supervisee relationship, and comfortable in the knowledge that Vicki wasn’t judging my progress, the relationship felt much more like a partnership. The usual power dynamics felt distant from our casual and encouraging chats, and Vicki seemed just as willing to learn from me as I was from her. She asked questions from interest, not just to test my knowledge, and I didn’t fear not knowing the answers. She helped me through writing and editing my first chapter for publication, and through a funding application, but more importantly, she helped me navigate the unwritten rules of academia – what was acceptable to ask, how would a certain request be viewed, what were the expectations in a given situation. I found this invaluable, and it’s something that I think the scheme is really disposed to. Having someone who’s been there before, who has asked the same questions, and in whose presence you feel no pressure to perform, has been of huge benefit.

Vicki’s guidance steered me through an odd phase, devoid of landmarks, and helped me further in navigating academia, and as such has set me up well for the last stage of the PhD, and hopefully for the next steps after that. I think the mentoring scheme – with a mentor like mine who eschewed the traditional hierarchy of mentor and mentee – can be a rewarding and helpful experience with tangible benefits for both participants.