Zainab A.
Nickname
Zee
Pronouns
She/Her
Year and program name
2nd year, Health science with a concentration in biomedical science
Why did you want to become a mentor?
As an international student, I was nervous about starting my post-secondary school education in a different country with people of different backgrounds and lifestyles. I didn’t know much about university life, what was expected of me, and the things I should have avoided. I decided to sign up as a mentee to see whether it would be helpful and it was more than helpful. In my first week of class, I struggled with time management and attending classes as I was in a different time zone. I had a very good mentor, and I was able to have all my questions answered. My mentor gave me a lot of tricks, advice, and tips on how to plan my timetable for studying and doing my assignments. I was also able to realize that it was okay to not have everything figured out at once. I was able to keep a healthy balance of schoolwork, social life, and rest. I quickly felt comfortable with all the tasks I had to do. I want to be able to offer this help that was given to me I want to be able to make people as comfortable as I felt. I hope to help others adapt easily just as I adapted. I aim to help international students like myself, better adjust to new living circumstances and lifestyles.
What is one thing you wished you knew in your first year?
People excel at different paces and it’s okay to move one step at a time or at your own pace. It’s okay to ask for help regardless of the number of times. There are many resources at Carleton, especially for international students.
Fun fact about you!
I watch way too much of tv shows.