Mentorship in education is more than a buzzword, it is a mechanism that contributes to the growth of a new class of scientists, engineers, and innovators. For high school students that are trying to work toward a future in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), mentorship is the basis upon which meaningful guidance, confidence, and a small bit of understanding of the real world can be laid. As the need for qualified STEM professionals continues to rise, it is clear that the understanding and practice of mentorship in the sustainability of the next generation of young STEM talent is of great significance.
The importance of high school mentorship in STEM
High school is a crucial time for students as they begin a process of self-creation and academic identity formation while thinking about what career path they might want to take. In addition to being an extremely exciting, challenging, and stimulating world to consider, the world of STEM also comes with unique pressures and a sense of intimidation and stress. Mentorship serves as a liaison between both extremes by providing:
Guidance and Direction: Finding a direction in the vast realm of STEM can be challenging for students. Mentors will help to clarify their career objectives, make sense of their interests in the fields of STEM, guide them to opportunities in areas of interest and ability, and ultimately help students make informed assessment decisions about their educational pathway and career future.
Professional Skills Development: STEM careers also require the development of social skills (communication, flexibility, initiative, problem solving, curiosity, teamwork, and critical thinking) in addition to acquiring technical knowledge. Mentors will give students the opportunities to develop these skills, and therefore it is significant that mentors support students with their experience in this regard, as students progress both academically and professionally.
Confidence and Motivation: A common obstacle many students share is having doubt in their own capacities, particularly when engaged in a series of STEM courses that have proven to be quite rigorous. Mentors work to build their self-confidence, instill perseverance, and connect students to identify themselves as true scientists and engineers.
Building Scientific Identity and Career Pathways
Another area mentorship can influence the most is in shaping a strong scientific identity. Mentorship has helped students not only see themselves as legitimate members of the scientific community but actively remain in science when faced with challenges and setbacks, which is important in particular for underrepresented minorities and anyone in STEM facing additional barriers.
Similar to other studies, Kniffin's structured mentorship compilation shows:
An increase in academic performance and confidence.
A higher level of motivation and specificity for careers.
Better mental health and well-being.
More long-term involvement in STEM.
Mentors are facilitators of this engagement and are facilitators of networking in both their academic and career sectors. Together, mentors and mentees build an assumed level of professionalism that allows students to see themselves in STEM careers, like pursuing advanced studies through transformative research experiences
Experiential Learning: The Influence of Mentoring
Experiential learning is a natural partner to efficacious STEM mentorship, and has benefits due to the fact that experiential learning, which incorporates scaffolding with project-based research, provides students with real-world experiences that cultivate deeper understanding of scientific ideas and concepts.
Experiential learning programs that provides hands-on opportunities for students, allows students to do key concepts and actions:
Use what you learned in class to address real-world challenges.
Experience inquiry-based learning and think critically.
Reflect on their experience and expand their understanding of how learning can apply to future dreams.
Central to the reflection process is the mentor. Mentors help meaningfully structure work and develop critical topics related to a students' context and community. The cycle of action and expedition within the responsible reflection of the mentor not only promotes retention in STEM, but also enhances students' feelings of community, belonging, and purpose.
Near-Peer and Industry Mentorship: Broader Impact
Mentorship in high school STEM has much to offer outside of traditional teacher/student mentorships. Mentoring in a near-peer sense, with older students or undergraduates mentoring high school students, has been especially effective. Near-peer mentors are old enough to understand the obstacles and challenges that their mentees are working through, yet they are also experienced enough to help steer these students towards productive solutions. Benefits may include:
Clarifying misconceptions related to STEM careers.
Empowering students from underrepresented groups.
Allowing mentors to develop leadership and agency.
Professionals also have an important role. Mentorship helps students replace blind optimism with a more accurate, more realistic vision of the expectations, limitations, and possibilities of STEM careers including possible routes to success and tactical strategies for negotiating the workforce. Students have stated that the most valuable mentors were the ones that not only inspired self-belief and equipped them with full understanding of STEM careers.
Barriers/Opportunities in STEM Mentoring
Although there are many advantages to mentorship, there are also barriers to facilitating mentoring experiences for all students. Barriers include:
Access to mentors (limited number of mentors in some areas, particularly diversity of mentors are often lacking).
Awareness of mentoring.
Quality and consistency of mentoring relationships.
In order to overcome barriers, schools and organizations should:
Improve access and completion of mentorship programs.
Enhance the meaningfulness of mentorship experiences.
Streamline the application of a mentor.
Promote virtual mentoring with mentors and mentees to reach more students.
Embed structured mentoring in all STEM programs and partner with Career Centres and industry partners.
Mentorship as a Catalyst for Diversity and Inclusion
Mentorship has significant instrumental potential with regard to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM, particularly with respect to underrepresented groups (e.g., women, students of color, etc.). Mentorship can help to alleviate barriers to the full participation of all students in STEM education.
Accessible mentoring supports and culturally relevant mentoring styles can encourage ongoing interest and sustained participation of students in an STEM education and career pathways. Mentors with a focus on equity and cultural responsiveness not only enhance the experience of each individual student, but help build more inclusive STEM learning communities.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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