“Of course I have my family but variety is the spice of life. Mentoring is better done face to face and working from home does not give me this opportunity,” says Celestine, Associate Manager, Mentoring Services Office. Despite the challenges, however, Celestine has embarked on flexing her tech muscle and is indulging various social media platforms to engage her mentees.

For over 15 years her passion for the young people and desire to see them thrive as responsible citizens fuels her call to be a greater mentor with every interaction she has with them. Her contagious smile and welcoming words signal that someone is ready to listen. It is also her way of paying forward having been under the wings of a mentor herself. “I am because someone held my hand and still does to date,” says Celestine.

Creativity and Adaptation

In an effort to stop the ripple of uncertainty caused by online studies, Celestine has had to wear hats in different shapes, colours and sizes.  Her approach has allowed her to handle diverse concerns for individuals and groups. Some of these challenges included the registration of those going to 3^rd year and desired to pursue double majors. The issue was shared with the registrars team and from her follow up the students are on their path of study without a hitch. Another hiccup that arose was the accommodation for international students after closure of hostels. Celestine was able to reach out to the Dean of Students office who ironed out the dilemma; now the Stratizens are settled.

New normal

Celestine attests to waking up later than usual. However, thanks to minimum interruption, she works more intensely and adheres to her to do list. She begins the day with morning Mass on EWTN at 8 am. An hour later she settles down for regular work that includes responding to emails, calling mentees and zoom meeting between 10 – 11am. Family time is now a routine during lunch break. Depending on the hustle and bustles of the day, her day ends at quarter past five.  Sometimes though urgent agendas have had her work past 10pm.

 A bond for a life time

For some of her mentees, idleness was not an option. To keep engaged during the school break and cultivate other skills, they signed up with Red Cross to help in the distribution of food to needy families. As Celestine continues to influences her own, she is being cultured about the life of a millennial and the ever changing digital platforms. As a result, her genre of reads and research has become more diverse.

 

Do not walk alone in this journey of life. Celestine can’t wait to hear from you. Email the mentoring office (studentmentoring@strathmore.edu) and when the time comes for all to return to campus diarize to visit her. Your mentor can become your lifetime friend, that shoulder to lean on and the gate valves that unleashes you from mediocre to the realm of infinite possibilities.

 

This article was written by Annete Karanja. 

 

Would you like to share your experience of living through the circumstances brought by the Covid-19 pandemic? Kindly email: communications@strathmore.edu