Participants in the Forsters Mentoring Programme team up to think big.

From achieving top grades in their exams to gaining fluency in another language, the young people on our Forsters Mentoring Programme have set their ambitions high.

Recently they met with their mentors in the offices of Forsters, a leading real estate and private client law firm based in Mayfair, to discuss how they might go about meeting their goals.

The session was one of a series of structured meetings that will take place between mentors and mentees over the next few months, with volunteers from the prestigious law firm drawing upon their professional knowledge to support ten young people as they make important life choices.

The mentors and mentees discussed potential goals and how to achieve them using the model SMART, where goals are designed to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

At a stage in life when there are so many potential paths to follow, a little advice can go a long way, as participant Natalie Padua Calbario, 17, reflects. 

“There’s so much pressure around getting through exams and deciding what you want to be when you’re older. It’s great having a mentor because he has more experience and can guide me.”

Her mentor Rishi Chudasama, who is the recruitment manager at Forsters, is only too happy to pass on his advice.

“Setting and meeting goals is something I have to do all the time in my job. It’s a transferrable skill that the young people will find very useful when they get into the workplace.”

Natalie welcomes the time-sensitive aspect of the goals she has set. “One of the things I’d like to do is gain more confidence in approaching new people in different situations. We’ve set the goal of doing this at least once between now and our next meeting after Christmas. It makes a difference knowing that this is something I’ll be asked about.”

For mentee Karain Mpeti, breaking down her goal of gaining fluency in French into smaller steps has made it seem achievable. 

“My parents both speak French and I now have a plan to practise speaking to them for one hour a day every day for the next 30 days. It’s exciting to think I could become fluent. It could open lots of doors for me – for example, one day I might be able to go and work in another country.”

Forsters mid page

The ten participants in our programme are all sixth-form students at The Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College in Brent.

As part of the programme they will meet their mentors on five occasions, focusing on a different professional skill each time. The programme will culminate in a ‘TED talk’ style presentation task.

We look forward to seeing them progress!

Find out more about our mentoring programmes for sixth form students. 

  • Just wanted to let know the online mentoring sessions have been amazing and it’s been very helpful so far. Also, I wanted to thank you for setting this programme up! It’s honestly been great and I’m very thankful you’ve been able to help me and others ease into this program the way you have.

    Waseem, YP Online Mentee