I’ve benefited from many great mentoring relationships throughout my career. Each relationship provided the support I needed at that life stage, helping me define and work towards personal and professional goals.

According to a recent Harvard Business Review article, the benefits of mentorship are clear. Mentees “perform better, advance in their careers faster, and experience more work-life satisfaction”. It is also important to remember that mentoring is two-sided, and that mentors also benefit from acting as a trusted advisor.

In higher education, mentoring contributes to retention and student success. However, college students don’t necessarily seek out mentoring relationships or know how to establish such a connection.

I’m not sure I really knew what a mentoring relationship entailed when I was at university. My professors, parents, and friends supported. In retrospect, however, I would have benefited from the unique support a mentor provides.

To help break down some of these barriers, this article outlines what it means to be a mentor, the different types of mentors, and how to grow a mentoring relationship.

Social connection is a core human need. Having a strong support network is essential to building a sense of belonging. Research shows the positive correlation between social connectedness and overall wellbeing, resilience, and life satisfaction.

For students, a feeling of belonging is a key predictor of student engagement, retention, and success. Social connections provide students with the emotional and academic support they need to thrive.

Regular social interaction helps develop meaningful and lasting relationships. There are plenty of stories of college friends starting a business together, and I personally have several friends who met their significant other in college. Even some of the more short-term connections can provide long-term benefits.

Having a strong support network helps students feel less isolated. It helps them realize that they are not alone in experiencing stress and anxiety. Social connectedness also helps prevent student burnout and contributes to higher student retention rates.