Mentorship Session Diaries: Knowing Who’s On Your Squad

Starting a new school year can sometimes feel like you have to figure everything out on your own. New classes, new expectations, new environments, and new challenges can quickly become overwhelming. But one of the most important things to remember is that success doesn’t have to be an individual journey.

The theme of our first PinballBURSARY mentorship session of the year was The Team: Knowing Who’s On Your Squad. Throughout the conversation, one message continued to come through: "You don’t have to figure everything out on your own.” Having the right people around you can make all the difference, but support only works when we’re willing to use it. Sometimes that means asking a professor a question, reaching out to a mentor when things aren’t going well, leaning on a friend or simply being honest enough to say, “I need help.”

Students were reminded that there is an entire community behind them. Miss Kimmie, Senior Manager of Community Engagement, encouraged students to communicate when they are struggling so the team can step in and advocate for them. While Pinball Foundation CEO Jennifer Branco shared a simple piece of advice from her years as a professor: "show up, ask questions and make yourself known."

That idea of showing up carried throughout the session. Returning students encouraged those new to the program to participate, use the resources available to them and lean into the mentorship experience. As one student put it, "You get out what you put in.” Other students spoke about the relationships they have built through the program, stating the PinballBURSARY community can become much more than a program; it can become a family, filled with people who want to see you succeed. The more we communicate and allow ourselves to be supported, the stronger those relationships become.

Knowing who’s on your squad doesn’t mean they will always have the answers. Sometimes they are there to encourage you, challenge you, hold you accountable or remind you of what you’re capable of.

As we begin another school year, the goal isn’t to have everything figured out. It’s to know who is in your corner, be willing to lean on them and remember that "you don’t have to face the journey alone."