Our RPTU Story
Mentoring for first-year students - always someone you can ask
Women are still underrepresented in some subjects at RPTU. In order to specifically support female students, the "Mentoring for female first-year students" project has been in place since 2010: a mentor, an experienced female student, supports her mentee, a female first-year student.
"We spoke on the phone before I started my studies, about two months before I came to university," says Florentine Domrös about the first contact with her mentor Annelina Valerius. Further meetings followed online and at the start of my studies in Kaiserslautern: "I had a lot of organizational questions at the beginning. It was good to know that there was someone there who could explain everything." Annelina Valerius and Florentine Domrös are both studying for a Bachelor's degree in mathematics - although Annelina Valerius is four semesters further on. They were put in touch via the mentoring program for first-year students, which was set up by RPTU's Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Family Office. Annelina Valerius: "The project brings tandems together. These are an older student who is at least in her third semester and a first-year student from the same subject." The aim is for the older student to advise the younger student in her first two semesters, give her a helping hand - and perhaps also warn her about the odd stumbling block.
Mentoring program was one reason for choosing Kaiserslautern as a place to study
"It was partly because of the mentoring program that I decided to study in Kaiserslautern in the first place," says Florentine Domrös, who knew that mathematics was not an easy subject to choose - and therefore relied on support right from the start: "A lot of smart people study mathematics. Many of them have straight A's." But most of them have a hard time getting into the subject: "Some drop out because the subject is completely different to math lessons at school." What is the challenge? "At university, it's not about arithmetic, it's about proving things and thinking in a structured way," explains the 21-year-old. "You hardly come across any numbers. Studying mathematics is like learning another language."
Overcoming initial difficulties together
Annelina Valerius knows these initial difficulties from her own experience: "From the 10th grade onwards, I knew that I wanted to study mathematics. I was very good at the subject, had math as an advanced course. I took part in math competitions." However, starting to study mathematics was pure overload for the once very good student: "I felt really bad. I didn't pass my first exams." She then gave herself three semesters to find out whether she and mathematics could still make it. She didn't want to give up straight away. Among other things, she signed up for the mentoring program, was a mentee herself at the time and received support. "Today I know that you put a lot of pressure on yourself," Annelina Velarius sums up, "many people simply fail because of themselves.
"There's always someone you can ask"
Valerius, a mathematics student, wanted to pass on her experience and became a mentor to Florentine Domrös at the start of the 2021/22 winter semester. A happy coincidence from which both benefited: "Annelina took away my perfectionism right from the start. I could talk to her." The two met up from time to time, even cooked together, the chemistry between them was just right: "Annelina made it clear to me that it's completely normal if things don't work out. When you have doubts." And: "I also sought her advice before exams." What exactly did the help look like? "In mathematics, for example, we have a very extensive oral exam after the first two semesters," says Florentine Domrös. "Annelina studied with me and also gave me tips for the exam." And the 22-year-old mentor adds: "It was also a good opportunity for me to review the material." And beyond that? What else does Annelina Valerius take away from her mentoring work? "I've learned a lot about how to lead. In a way, you lead and guide your mentee. Skills that you might need again, for example when you climb the career ladder and have to manage employees at some point."
Overall, she recommends a proactive approach, says Annelina Valerius, when asked what she would like to pass on to future mentors: "If I haven't heard from Florentine for a while, I've already asked how she's doing." Florentine Domrös agrees: "As a mentee, it's incredibly good to know that someone is there. Someone who asks questions of their own accord." The time commitment for the mentor is manageable, adds Valerius, who has already mentored her second mentee, Florentine Domrös: "Of course you have to invest time. But not so much time that you can't devote to it. And it's fun."
Empowering female students to get through their time at university well
The two mentees were also able to exchange ideas with other mentors and mentees from the project at various events. Christine Klein, who coordinates the whole thing on behalf of the Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Family Office, receives very good feedback: "I keep hearing from the mentees that they benefit from the safety net that the program offers them. I hear from the mentors, who incidentally do this on a voluntary basis, that they reflect on their own start to their studies."
The rising number of participants also shows that the project is a success: At the start of the 2022/ 23 winter semester, over 50 first-year students registered, including international students. Christine Klein: "I then try to find a suitable mentor for each of them. The first decisive criterion when forming a tandem is, of course, that both students are studying the same subject. If there is a larger selection, I look for shared hobbies and interests." Just like Annelina Valerius, most of the mentors were once mentees themselves: "I'm always pleased when they remain loyal to the project in this way."
Exchanging ideas, clearing up doubts together - possibly even preventing students from dropping out. What else could the mentoring program do? How could it develop further? Christine Klein: "I could imagine the participants taking on even more responsibility. That the mentors also organize meetings for everyone, for example." The participants can already benefit from the workshops run by the Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Family Office: "It's all about improving soft skills," explains Christine Klein. For example, self-motivation, how to master challenging communication - or discovering your own strengths. "These are all topics that should help female students to get through their studies well." Christine Klein hopes that the participants in the mentoring program will stay in touch after their studies, "that they will form a network and continue to support each other".
A network for the rest of their lives too
Florentine Domrös and Annelina Valerius have become friends. However, this is not a matter of course for every tandem, they both emphasize. Nevertheless, they can benefit from the exchange and would definitely recommend the mentoring program to others. Annelina Valerius: "It's best to sign up as early as possible. So that mentor and mentee can get in touch with each other before the semester starts."
And what's next for the two mathematics students? Florentine Domrös would like to do a Master's in mathematics after her Bachelor's. Annelina Valerius wants to leave RPTU after her bachelor's degree and take a completely different, new path: "I want to do something crafty, train as a pastry chef." But she doesn't rule out the possibility of completing a Master's degree in mathematics at some point, perhaps while working. "Then I'll ask Florentine for advice, she'll be my mentor." And Florentin Domrös says with a laugh: "Yes, I'd love to. Of course I'll help you."
"Mentoring for female first-year students" is a project of the Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Family Office:
Text: Christine Pauli, permanent freelancer in the field of science communication / university communication / press and public relations at RPTU
Photos: Thomas Koziel, photographer, RPTU University Communications Office