As we celebrate Mentorship Month this January, we’re focusing on the profound impact that peer mentors can have on young people’s STEM journeys. Near-peer mentorship—where older students guide younger peers—is one of the critical strategies that we champion here at STEM Next. This research-backed approach fosters confidence, builds leadership, and helps keep youth engaged in STEM across ages and stages of their STEM journeys.
Over the past year, we have seen this impact firsthand through our Flight Crew initiative.
The Flight Crew is a youth ambassador initiative of STEM Next to elevate young voices in STEM, particularly girls, to inspire peers and demonstrate that STEM is for everyone and happens everywhere. In the most recent class of the Flight Crew, we welcomed back alumni to serve as mentors and guide new members through the experience.
Here, a few of them share what serving as a peer mentor meant to them.
Peer Mentors Create Ripple Effects
Mentorship is a two-way street, especially within the Flight Crew. Alumni mentors gain invaluable leadership experience by guiding the next cohort, while new members benefit from relatable role models who understand their challenges.
Nikhita, a 2022 Flight Crew member who served as a mentor for the most recent class, reflected on this:
“Serving as a mentor for the Million Girls Moonshot 2024 Flight Crew was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was inspiring to witness the passion, curiosity, and potential of my peers as they continued learning and exploring the endless possibilities within STEM fields. As a mentor, I gained so much from their perspectives, innovative ideas, and boundless enthusiasm. Together, we are not just supporting each other’s growth; we are propelling our dreams to new heights, breaking barriers, and shaping a future full of possibilities for our generation and beyond.”
This embodies the powerful ripple effect of near-peer mentorship, especially in breaking down barriers that have historically kept girls and other underrepresented groups from feeling included in STEM. Every mentee who gains confidence and leadership skills can, in turn, inspire and mentor others, reshaping the STEM landscape to be more responsive to youth of all backgrounds.
Mentorship Inspires Confidence and Connection
For Lylah, a 2023 Flight Crew member, mentoring the 2024 Flight Crew wasn’t just about offering advice—it was about connecting with other young leaders in STEM and reinforcing each other’s strengths.
“Being a mentor was such an incredible experience where I was able to hear about the remarkable stories from the Flight Crew and play a part in shaping their STEM journeys. I loved being able to learn from the members in my cohort and also share some of my experiences in the STEM field with them. It was amazing collaborating with such driven youth, as their creativity and dedication made every moment of the experience both inspiring and impactful.”
Learn More About Near-Peer Mentorship
Near-peer mentorship is a key strategy for fostering long-term engagement in STEM. As part of STEM Next’s Making Connections series, we discuss how this approach helps youth thrive in their STEM journeys.
Based on research we commissioned by the Connected Learning Lab at UC Irvine and STEM Next’s Million Girls Moonshot partners, this strategy is one of eight that supports unlocking academic, workforce, and civic opportunities for all youth. Learn more here.