Kaylee herself was a first-generation student. Her parents considered going to university important, but were unfamiliar with the world behind it. “My parents sent me off to university with a statute book and thought: ‘Right, that is sorted.’ But at that point they knew just as little as I did about everything else that would be involved.” 

Finding your way in the system  

It took years before Kaylee realised how many opportunities there actually were and how she could find her way within the system. To support new students with this, she decided to become a mentor. “I wanted to share the knowledge and experience I have with other first-generation students and in that way support them.” 

She now works as a lawyer at a large Amsterdam firm, where she sees how persistent certain ideas about the Zuidas are, particularly among students with a bicultural background. “People think that you can only work on the Zuidas if you have top marks, are a member of a traditional student fraternity, or know everyone already. That really is not the case.” What Kaylee feels is underestimated is that students with a different background or route into the profession bring different strengths to the table. They often simply do not learn how to make those visible. 

Supporting with things that seem self-evident to professionals 

The matching with Giuliana went smoothly, and they quickly clicked. For Kaylee, it was especially important not to use her own career as a blueprint. “I absolutely did not want my path to have to become her path.” They therefore started by simply talking, exploring options, and taking doubts seriously. 

Kaylee also supported Giuliana with things that may seem self-evident to professionals but are unfamiliar territory for a young person. Which firms do what kind of work? How do you actually read a website – and what should you look for? What does an Instagram channel tell you, and what does it not? And very small, practical things, such as: “How do you approach someone to ask to meet for a coffee? That may be completely normal for many people, but for many others it is not. And that does not mean they are not allowed or able to take part.” 

For Kaylee, this is also her most important role as a mentor: helping mentees understand how unwritten rules work and creating space to ask questions that others may no longer ask. 

Benefits for both mentee and mentor

The mentoring trajectory proved effective: Giuliana dared to take steps that had initially felt daunting. She registered for a business course and will soon be doing an internship at a large firm. The experience also brought a great deal to Kaylee herself, especially the realisation of how quickly you forget what it feels like to be new. “At a certain point you are so embedded in the environment that you forget what it is like when you have just arrived – know very little and do not have a grip on anything yet.” 

Kaylee has a clear message for other alumni who are unsure whether this programme is for them: “Do not assume too quickly that you do not fit. Everyone can support someone.” In her view, the variety of backgrounds is precisely what makes the programme stronger. Moreover, it does not only benefit the student; it also benefits you as a mentor. You learn to guide, tolisten, and you gain a sharper view of where systems fall short in terms of inclusion. 

According to Kaylee, that may well be the greatest value of Meet Your Mentor. The programme makes visible what is self-evident for some and not for others – and it is precisely there that mentoring can make a difference.