For Scholars
Someone to talk to. Someone to learn from. Someone in your corner.
Your BCFF mentor is someone from another part of the world who brings their own experiences, questions, interests, and lessons—and is interested in hearing yours.
You do not need all the answers. Your mentor is someone you can think with.
What is an intercultural mentor?
A person with perspective—not a person with every answer.
Someone relatable who has lived through challenges, made mistakes, learned things, and is willing to share honestly. Your mentor is not there to tell you what to do. They can listen, ask questions, offer guidance, help you think through decisions, act as a sounding board, and sometimes simply be a friend.
You decide what matters to you.
Hobbies · Interests · Talents · School · Future plans · Career interests · Dreams · Books · Music · Sports · Life · Questions · Excitement · Things that feel difficult
More perspective for the decisions in front of you.
Your mentor can offer guidance, listen without immediately judging, help you think through choices, share experiences and mistakes, explore careers and interests, encourage you to follow through on goals, and introduce you to useful people, ideas, and opportunities. They cannot promise jobs, internships, or university admission. What they can offer is attention, perspective, and a relationship you can use well.
A 30-minute conversation might look like this.
01 — CHECK IN How are you feeling today?
02 — FOLLOW UP What happened since your last conversation?
03 — EXPLORE Talk about a question, an interest, a decision, or a challenge.
04 — REFLECT What did you learn? What do you want to do next?
05 — RESET Sometimes you do not need a plan. Sometimes you just need someone to listen.
Sessions can include accountability for academics, reading, sports, personal development, career exploration, or goals you choose for yourself. Not every conversation needs to feel productive. Some are simply a chance to decompress.
A steady rhythm, with room for real life.
Meet approximately every other week for around 30 minutes, with a goal of at least five sessions each quarter. Exam periods and especially demanding weeks can be adjusted. Clear communication matters more than pretending every week is easy.
This is not about being perfect. It is about showing up.
Show up consistently. Communicate if you cannot make a session. Come with curiosity. Be honest and authentic. Take the opportunity seriously. Respect your mentor’s time. You do not need to perform or have the right answer—you only need to participate in the relationship.
What if you do not get along?
Not every relationship is the perfect fit—and that is okay. Tell your BCFF contact person as soon as something does not feel right. We can help mediate and improve the relationship, or end it and explore a rematch where appropriate. You are never expected to stay silent when something is not working.
Your story is worth sharing.
Your mentor will bring their own perspective. But they are there to hear yours, too.