Starting university is often described as one of the most exciting phases of a young person’s life, but it can also be one of the most intimidating. It is easy to feel lonely, isolated, overwhelmed, or lost amongst documents, upcoming exams and the almost endless maze of faculty corridors.

To help ease this tension, Assoc. Prof. Dr Justina Urbonaitė and Dr. Linara Bartkuvienė, mentors of the newly established mentorship programme for first-year students, organised a warm, student-centred event at the faculty.

On 20th of November, first-year English Philology students were invited to meet senior peers for an open conversation about their concerns, achievements and everything in between. The gathering provided a safe space for first-year students to discuss what had been weighing on their minds and to seek advice not only from the programme mentors, but also from senior students who have already navigated similar challenges.

Here, they got recommendations, tips and were introduced to certain activities possible at the faculty, some of which include Discourse Magazine and opportunities to volunteer at various faculty events.

Just a week earlier, on 14th of November, Dr. Linara Bartkuvienė hosted a similar mentorship event geared towards first- and second-year MA English Studies students. This event proved equally useful, as MA students exchanged stories, reflected on academic life and connected in a relaxed, informal setting.

Both evenings concluded with an entertaining photoshoot and a promise to continue building a supportive, collaborative student community.