What Students Remember: The Power of Creative Mentorship

There are some classroom conversations that students never forget. The choice of words from a creative mentor – a single sentence such as “I see what you can become” – may set their career path on a totally different trajectory to what it might have been.

It’s all in a day’s work for those teaching in universities, and often what they find most rewarding. Knowing that their advice and encouragement has hit the mark and set a student on a path to self-fulfilment and success – well it doesn’t really get better than that.

But what of the students? Well, most of them won’t forget the times a mentor helped them reframe their potential and see a way to realizing their most dearly held ambitions. So in the words of the students themselves, here are a number of examples that pay homage to academic and creative mentors. Whether faculty, staff, professionals or fellow students, each have made both a vital difference and a lasting impression.

Mentorship: College and university examples

Pratt Institute: Explore and Grow

At the Pratt Institute, New York, the Prattfolio magazine actively seeks out examples of staff that left a deep impression as mentors. Here are some powerful examples:

“He taught his students to think in ideas and speak those ideas in an exciting visual language. He gave me the foundations to become a strong designer and taught me by example how to teach.”

“When I was having a hard time, trying to appease an audience instead of focusing on what I wanted to say, without even realizing that’s what I was doing, she sat me down and pointed that out to me, and since that moment, my art has really transformed and changed into something I’m absolutely proud of.”

“I always felt welcomed and validated in their classroom, allowing me to make mistakes without shame and nurture topics that I had interest in. It’s all I could ever ask for in a professor!”

“Still a mentor to this day…  she approaches everyone as artists who are in her class to explore concepts and to grow creatively.”

“He stretched our imaginations to their fullest and made us really think about what we were creating and the feelings our art could generate. I thank him every time I sit down at my drawing board!”

“She encouraged me to explore nontraditional opportunities, shaping not just my academic path but my life as a whole.”

For further examples, and not least, the identities of the mentors described, see the original Prattfolio stories here.

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Grit and Discipline

Interviews with RISD graduating students in Industrial Design reveal aspects of mentoring that have helped them establish their creative identities and begin their careers:

Teaching resilience and commitment:

“One of my mentors… always says that your journey only starts to make sense when you look back. That’s how RISD is. In the moment, when you have to show up for that charcoal studio at 8am even if it’s snowing, you’re like ‘Why am I doing this?’ But it develops grit and discipline.

Instilling confidence and self-belief:

“RISD has taught me how to be comfortable with ambiguity, to approach a problem with an open mind. We learned to trust ourselves and the process—to find our way through. It has been an amazing experience.”

Others also focused on the positive environment for supporting students from minority backgrounds. It was mentioned how diversity in the student population is reflected in faculty representation, providing strong role models and giving greater confidence for entering potentially less diverse workplaces.

Read more from RISD here.

Nottingham Trent University: Inspiration from Day One

Broadcast journalism courses at Nottingham Trent University are established in providing strong vocational training and support for budding journalists and media creators.

MA Television Journalism alum Sarah Leigh reflected on how the hands-on support she received helped launch her career in TV and film:

“Our course leader said to us on the first day, ‘Everyone has a story.’ I’ve never forgotten that and I bring it into my work today…. The course was very vocational and hands on and I loved that. When I started in the TV industry, it had given me a good grounding on how things worked.” 

RMIT – Developing a Critical Perspective

At RMIT in Melbourne, Communications and Media alum Gianna Mazzeo reflects on what helped her progress in her filmmaking career – the critical approach she was encouraged to develop and continuously supported to repeat. It has proved to be more valuable than any single technical skill:

“I think the real value of studying at RMIT is learning to think critically. What I take into my career now is the communications theory we were taught, dissecting important films in cinema studies class, and thinking of a good idea. These are really important skills for a writer and director… at the core of any meaningful project you undertake, you really need to have a solid idea and know exactly what you’re trying to make.”

RMIT also has a formal Career Mentoring program which connects industry mentors to students and first-year graduates. More schemes like this are explored next.

Industry-based mentors

Universities that connect students with industry-based mentors have also been highly praised by students:

University of the Arts London (UAL) – Professional mentoring programme

UAL runs a programme that connects students with industry figures in creative fields including journalism and design. It involves identifying and recruiting mentors, understanding what each can offer and matching this with the needs of each student. Mentors work with students to help to identify and work towards career openings, building professionalism and employability.

One participating student reflected on the value of their one-to-one professional mentoring experience:

“Mentoring has grown my confidence in interacting with creative industry professionals immensely. It has helped to demystify what the career of an artist really is –  breaking down the progression, different avenues of income, and possibilities out there. It was an invaluable experience that I am really grateful to have had access to.”

Read more about this UAL programme here.

Aalto University – A Platform for Opportunity

At Aalto University, Finland, a formal programme connects students and alumni to explore career options and self-development. It’s large scale, with over 400 participants each year. Students select a mentor, browsing through profiles on a dedicated platform. It leads to a series of 1:1 meetings on a monthly basis. As one mentor comments:

“The experience that I gained guiding someone to plan and achieve their goals. The networking and friendship that we’ve built. On top of that, the inner satisfaction of helping someone was great.”

Read more about the programme at Aalto University here.

Alumni as mentors

Finally, direct involvement from alumni can offer important perspectives and help grow current students’ ambitions and pride in their institution. Returning to the RSID Industrial Design example, one student’s comment identified alumni as their source of mentoring:

“I’ve also met super-successful RISD alumni… who come to final crits, share their experiences with current students and give feedback on their work. Once I have some experience in the field, I hope I’ll be able to do that as well.” 

Mentorship – the perfect gift!

Faculty and others that help students find their true voice and aesthetic will always be remembered as treasured mentors. Their guidance is invaluable at this early, fragile stage of so many creative careers.

The simple generous act of making time to instil a sense of confidence and purpose is beyond price, both for the student receiving it and in reward to the mentors themselves. We hope you have found this selection of examples as inspiring as we have – please get in touch if you would like to share your story too.

A final word

With the upcoming BEA (Broadcast Education Association) awards season, when many students (and faculty!) are being recognized for their creative achievements, it seems appropriate timing to reflect on the importance of the mentoring role in supporting these amazing projects.

Read more here on the Best of Festival awards that we’ve been celebrating at Connect2, and don’t forget to join our LinkedIn community while you’re there!