The value of Eberly’s mentoring program
featuring alumna Shelby Foster
Finishing up college was one of the scariest times of my life. Where was I going to go? I had worked so hard for four years and gained so much knowledge, but it wasn’t immediately obvious how I should apply that to a career. I got through these worries and made informed decisions about my future, and I attribute much of this to guidance from my Eberly College of Science mentor, Dr. Eric Freed, an accomplished scientist at the National Institutes of Health who has never forgotten his connections to Penn State.
As an undergraduate, mentoring was a bit intimidating as well. How does a student prepare to talk to someone so accomplished? Dr. Freed (he insists now that I call him Eric, and I see him as so accomplished that this is still difficult for me!) fostered an easy relationship with me from the very beginning. Eric talked to me about my interests and goals, but he also made an effort to get to know me as a person. We talked about a mutual interest in running and our favorite places that we had traveled. Getting to know Eric as a person made our mentoring relationship more fluid. I felt safe in discussing things I was unsure about and asking for help. Eric gave me real-world advice about the pros and cons of going right into a job in industry or continuing school to get a master’s degree or a doctorate.
Eric created a relationship with me where I felt comfortable reaching out to him when I wanted some guidance. After our initial introduction, I never hesitated to reach out with questions. And if Eric had not heard from me for a while, he would send me an email to check in. It was comforting as a student to feel that someone cared about where I ended up after Penn State. As a mentor, Eric fostered a relationship with me where there was never pressure to make contact or meet specific goals. Our mentorship made me feel supported but never overwhelmed. Almost five years after graduation, Eric and I still keep in touch periodically. The relationship has been valuable to me as both a student and a young professional.
Mentorship is an excellent opportunity to feel supported as a student. Mentors have been in your shoes, and they have hands-on experience with how to turn a science degree into a scientific career. It can be tremendously valuable to have an unbiased opinion on career matters that feel daunting to you, and the Eberly College of Science has many valuable alumni who are eager to talk to and guide students. I hope that my story will encourage other students to consider joining the mentorship program and alumni to consider becoming mentors.