Leah Gaffney from Engineers Without Borders USA Harvard University Chapter (EWB-USA Harvard) reflects on the positive power of mentorships.

EWB-USA was an incredible experience for me, and a lot of that is because of the mentorships available in the program. Mentorship is critical to the development of a student’s path and goals, and EWB-USA can provide great mentorship opportunities that go far beyond the classroom. My mentor at EWB-USA Harvard was Chris Lombardo, the faculty advisor for our Chapter. He delved into real-world teachings that can’t be learned from a book and inspired me to become a mentor to younger students.

Leah Gaffney from EWB-USA Harvard spends time with children in Pinalito, Dominican Republic.

With Chris as a model, I learned that a great EWB-USA mentor:

• is patient and relatable, inviting students to feel comfortable talking to them.
• brings extensive experience to the EWB-USA chapter: technical know-how, cross-cultural communication skills and logistical expertise.
• has a presence that inspires confidence.
• empowers student teams, providing strong support while letting students take ownership of their work.
• is a resource for mentees on a broad spectrum, from project management support to career advisement.
• shows genuine interest in their mentees.
• is an advocate for EWB-USA student volunteers.

How to Become A Mentor

Peer-to-peer mentorship is also critically important. My experience as a student leader at EWB-USA Harvard taught me that mentorship doesn’t need to have an official structure, it just has to be genuine. In fact, mentorship seems most successful when it extends beyond a defined mentoring role.

Older students become exceptional mentors when they’re willing to provide unconstrained advice and support to younger students. The best way to start is by making yourself available and approachable.

Leah Gaffney (EWB-USA Harvard) with Pinalitos Elvis and Luis Mario at the community water tank.

Student leaders should strive to create a welcoming environment in which anyone can become a contributing and valuable member of the team. One way to foster this is by getting chapter members together outside of official EWB-USA functions. This will provide space, time and the right environment to build important relationships.

The turnover rate of student-led college organizations can make the rewards of mentorship feel fleeting. I encourage Chapters to create a way to record their success stories and mentorship memories. The lessons learned by previous students can provide important direction for the next generation.

About the Author

Leah Gaffney was President of the EWB-USA Harvard University Chapter. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences and specialization in Bioengineering.