Happy Tuesday, and welcome back, Rams, to a new semester and a new year! In honor of National Mentoring Month, we’re sitting down with PhD candidate Nour Abosamak and undergraduate student Nicolas Morales. This duo shares a unique bond as mentor and mentee, coincidentally both international students, and are navigating the world of medicine and research together.
HAYA: Happy New Year and welcome back to Grad Pod, the podcast where we spotlight stories, experiences, and voices shaping graduate education at VCU. I’m your host, Haya Hamid, and today’s episode is in honor of National Mentoring Month. A time to recognize the importance of guidance, support, and connection in higher education.
Mentorship plays a meaningful role in helping both graduate and undergraduate students navigate their academic and professional journeys. And today, we are highlighting just that!
We’re highlighting that impact through one mentoring relationship at VCU. I am joined by Nicolas Morales, an undergraduate student in biology on the pre-med track, and Nour Abosamak, a PhD candidate in the Clinical and Translational Sciences program under the Wright Center for the Clinical and Translational Research, which is housed under the Office of Research and Innovation.
Nour is also serving as Nicolas’ mentor. Fun fact, they are both international students. Nour is joining us from Egypt and Nicolas is joining us from Colombia.
Thank you both for being here and welcome to the grad pod!
NOUR: Thank you for inviting me.
NICHOLAS: Yeah, thank you so much for the invitation.
HAYA: Yeah, it is so nice to have you guys here. I think this is our first time having two guests on the grad pod, so this is exciting.
To begin, I’d like to start with some introductions. Can you guys share with us a little bit about your program and how long you’ve been at VCU and what you plan to do once you complete your program?
And we can start with you, Nour.
NOUR: So, my program concentrates on translational research, which is translating theoretical findings. From the bench to bedside. So, translating applications from one population to the other, testing different methods. My personal research that I’m doing under the program involves using AI as a tool to improve health literacy specifically around oral cancer.
NICHOLAS: So, for me, I am a biology major. I started a couple years ago. It’s been taking a bunch of biology classes, chemistry classes, getting used to the basic sciences behind medicine. I have also had the privilege of participating in an internship, which I did last summer with the Pauly Heart Center. I was able to attend classes about the heart anatomy, medicine, how it works, and I also got the chance to meet my current mentor, Dr. Anin. I’m with her. I’ve been learning more about cancer. I have to treat it. I’ve been helping, volunteering , helping them investigate new treatments for breast cancer. I am just learning more about her previous research. I’m currently still doing the volunteering, helping as much as I can in my free time.
I’ve also worked at VCU, I started as a front desk worker. I was at the CLC at the Campus Learning Center. I just attended phone calls and managed the tutoring, and I am now, I just became a tutor for organic chemistry and biology classes.
Thank you guys for sharing. You certainly stay busy, I wanna get a little bit more into your mentoring relationship.
HAYA: My first question for both of you is, how did your mentoring relationship begin and what motivated you to get involved in this experience? Maybe could you guys talk a little bit about the graduate school mentorship program and how that pairing came along?
NICOLAS: Last year or a year ago? I first started with my previous mentor.
Yeah, I was looking for some guidance, in the medical field because in my family, I’m the first one to attend college in America, and of course it is very different from what it’s like in Colombia. So I just wanted to have someone. That’s been in this position before, you could, you know, give me some advice, tell me what to do and what not to do, and just how to prepare for medical school.
So, first, and it was great, he was doing a master’s at the time. He is currently in med school at UVA and he will always be there to support me. He will explain to me step by step what the process of becoming a doctor is, you know, going to med school, residency, fellowship, all these steps. He will explain it in detail.
We will discuss possible specialties, what he wanted to do in specific. And it was a great, great way of just learning more about the medical field here in America. And now, this year, it was, was it, I had the privilege of meeting Nour, as my new mentor. So with him, I’ve also got the chance to discuss medical school.
He’s given me a lot of advice and it’s just also having someone with a different perspective also helps a lot, you know, someone who came from Egypt. Different perspectives, different advice. Just the more advice it can get, the better.
NOUR: The Graduate School Mentorship program is a program hosted by the graduate school where they find graduate students. And undergrads who are interested in joining a mentorship relationship and match them together based on their interests and what their goals are after graduating from college. For example, in Nick’s case, he wants to go to med school, so they matched him with someone who has experience in medicine. My other mentee, Naya , is interested in getting a master’s degree, so I’m helping her with a graduate school application and how to get recommendation letters and how to improve her CV to be competitive for that graduate program.
HAYA: Thank you for sharing that.
Mentorship can look different for everyone. Nick, like you mentioned, you have had multiple mentors and Nour you’ve had multiple mentees. So how would you describe your mentoring relationship, the two of you, and what has it personally meant to the two of you?
NOUR: So everyone in the research or the medical field has had a mentor at some point in their life, and I wanted to be a part of this.
I wanted to find people who want a different perspective and a different point of view. And I wanted to share that, as much as I can from my experience, even if it’s not the most extensive, but I think actively trying to be a mentor for someone or give advice to someone who is asking for it, is just paying it back because all of us had have had mentors during our, professional career.
NICOLAS: [Nour], I just love the fact that in Egypt, you were a physician, right?
NOUR: Yes!
NICOLAS: Yeah. So because of that. I get advice from someone who’s been already through all the medical school and exams process. Someone who already knows, who’s already in the position, where I, where I want to be. That is just something that I really look up to.
And, it’s just great having someone in that position where I can ask any question who I can go for advice. Who’s there to support me. And also, of course, Nour is a great guy. He’s very fun to talk to. We, we often go to get some food and it’s just, it’s fun having someone who understands my position, all the stress and all the work and everything that comes with being a pre-medicine student.
So, it is just, it’s a fun way of learning the best way. To accomplish my goals, and it’s just, and it’s another friend of mine that supports me and just helps me get through all this hard, hard work.
NOUR: So, Nick already came with a lot of advice from his previous mentor, so my contribution to his current goal is minimal with just follow ups and, making sure that anything missing in his resume or CV is achieved before he finishes his undergrad, which is great because he has multiple perspectives, which is a privilege to be honest.
My other mentee, that’s her first time being in the program, so we are working closer and more extensively, I would say, because she wants to get into a graduate school program this year.
So for both of my mentees, Nick and Naya, we meet two times a month. We follow up on the goals that we put the previous, on the previous meeting, and we just talk about anything that we wanna talk about in order to reach the goal that they want.
HAYA: Thank you guys for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing from both of you about how you perceive this mentorship relationship and what you enjoy about each other.
In honor of National Mentoring Month, why do you believe that mentorship is important in higher education? I know, no, you talked a little bit about its importance in research, but what does this do to help you build your VCU community professional development and even beyond that?
NICOLAS: We come here to learn and to experience, , you know, new things in new careers, new fields of study. And when it comes to that, the classroom is not enough to learn so much about the real world. There are so many opportunities out there. There are so many things you could do to make sure you do well in your career.
So, mentoring is an essential part of education, in my opinion. That’s where you get to learn from people that have been in your position before and they can teach you what they did and what worked, what didn’t work, and they can make sure you have the right tools to get where you want to be.
NOUR: I agree with Nick!
And also I wanna say that mentorship is not a one way road. All of us learn from each other because everyone in VCU has a different experience and different perspectives are very important to be exposed to in order to know things that we are all biased toward our own opinion. So getting a different perspective from someone who has different experience is valuable for anyone.
And VCU has students and faculty and staff from. A lot of different disciplines and the goal of science is to bring those individuals with their experiences from those different disciplines together in order to help both ourselves and the community.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think you did a really good job of tying that together, Nour at the end finally.
What advice do you guys want to give to other students, whether undergrad or graduate, who are considering participating in a mentoring relationship or program, but maybe they’re unsure about taking that first step? What would you guys advise them to do for undergraduates?
NICOLAS: I will highly advise you find a mentor as soon as possible. Because it’s just a great way to. Know what you should do next or what not to do next. Mentors are just a great way. They give you kind of a heads up on your career. They know where, like, where to go, where to find opportunities. They can just help you so much get ahead in your career goals, and it’s just an incredible way of making relationships, making connections, and expanding your network.
So looking for mentoring will be, I will say, one of like the main things you should do in undergraduate school.
NOUR: I agree with Nick and also to undergraduate students, I think an advice would [be] like, a good advice would be starting or it doesn’t have a mentorship program and doesn’t have to be official.
It doesn’t have to be through an arranged program like the graduate school mentorship program, however. Any opportunity that you can get to find someone else who can give you their opinion, especially if they have experience relevant to what you’re asking is not gonna harm you. It is actually gonna give you a solution to possible problems that you might experience later in your path.
And, if you think you are doing everything perfectly, that is. In most cases not true, and you will not know that without getting someone else’s opinion. It doesn’t have to be someone older than you. It can be a colleague, it can be a parent, a family member. Just don’t be shy to ask questions. And, for graduate students, I would say mentorship is probably already a part of your career.
You got taught a lot of things through people that you met throughout your career, so I think it’s the best next step for you to share this knowledge with people around you.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think that’s the beauty of it all. Every mentor was once a mentee, and the hope and goal is to continue that cycle.
Thank you both for sharing your perspectives today, Nour and Nicolas. Your experiences highlight how mentorship creates space for growth, confidence, and connection. Whether your mentee is going to med school or starting a graduate program. I love the beauty of, , finding commonalities and being able to support your mentees in whichever step of the process they are.
And for you mentees to openly receive that guidance and really take full advantage and be resourceful with this relationship. So thank you all for listening. National Mentorship Month is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have supported us along the way and to consider how we might support them in return.
Graduate education is not about the degrees we earn. That’s another reminder, but about the relationships we built throughout the way.
HAYA: Happy New Year and welcome back to Grad Pod, the podcast where we spotlight stories, experiences, and voices shaping graduate education at VCU. I’m your host, Haya Hamid, and today’s episode is in honor of National Mentoring Month. A time to recognize the importance of guidance, support, and connection in higher education.
Mentorship plays a meaningful role in helping both graduate and undergraduate students navigate their academic and professional journeys. And today, we are highlighting just that!
We’re highlighting that impact through one mentoring relationship at VCU. I am joined by Nicolas Morales, an undergraduate student in biology on the pre-med track, and Nour Abosamak, a PhD candidate in the Clinical and Translational Sciences program under the Wright Center for the Clinical and Translational Research, which is housed under the Office of Research and Innovation.
Nour is also serving as Nicolas’ mentor. Fun fact, they are both international students. Nour is joining us from Egypt and Nicolas is joining us from Colombia.
Thank you both for being here and welcome to the grad pod!
NOUR: Thank you for inviting me.
NICHOLAS: Yeah, thank you so much for the invitation.
HAYA: Yeah, it is so nice to have you guys here. I think this is our first time having two guests on the grad pod, so this is exciting.
To begin, I’d like to start with some introductions. Can you guys share with us a little bit about your program and how long you’ve been at VCU and what you plan to do once you complete your program?
And we can start with you, Nour.
NOUR: So, my program concentrates on translational research, which is translating theoretical findings. From the bench to bedside. So, translating applications from one population to the other, testing different methods. My personal research that I’m doing under the program involves using AI as a tool to improve health literacy specifically around oral cancer.
NICHOLAS: So, for me, I am a biology major. I started a couple years ago. It’s been taking a bunch of biology classes, chemistry classes, getting used to the basic sciences behind medicine. I have also had the privilege of participating in an internship, which I did last summer with the Pauly Heart Center. I was able to attend classes about the heart anatomy, medicine, how it works, and I also got the chance to meet my current mentor, Dr. Anin. I’m with her. I’ve been learning more about cancer. I have to treat it. I’ve been helping, volunteering , helping them investigate new treatments for breast cancer. I am just learning more about her previous research. I’m currently still doing the volunteering, helping as much as I can in my free time.
I’ve also worked at VCU, I started as a front desk worker. I was at the CLC at the Campus Learning Center. I just attended phone calls and managed the tutoring, and I am now, I just became a tutor for organic chemistry and biology classes.
Thank you guys for sharing. You certainly stay busy, I wanna get a little bit more into your mentoring relationship.
HAYA: My first question for both of you is, how did your mentoring relationship begin and what motivated you to get involved in this experience? Maybe could you guys talk a little bit about the graduate school mentorship program and how that pairing came along?
NICOLAS: Last year or a year ago? I first started with my previous mentor.
Yeah, I was looking for some guidance, in the medical field because in my family, I’m the first one to attend college in America, and of course it is very different from what it’s like in Colombia. So I just wanted to have someone. That’s been in this position before, you could, you know, give me some advice, tell me what to do and what not to do, and just how to prepare for medical school.
So, first, and it was great, he was doing a master’s at the time. He is currently in med school at UVA and he will always be there to support me. He will explain to me step by step what the process of becoming a doctor is, you know, going to med school, residency, fellowship, all these steps. He will explain it in detail.
We will discuss possible specialties, what he wanted to do in specific. And it was a great, great way of just learning more about the medical field here in America. And now, this year, it was, was it, I had the privilege of meeting Nour, as my new mentor. So with him, I’ve also got the chance to discuss medical school.
He’s given me a lot of advice and it’s just also having someone with a different perspective also helps a lot, you know, someone who came from Egypt. Different perspectives, different advice. Just the more advice it can get, the better.
NOUR: The Graduate School Mentorship program is a program hosted by the graduate school where they find graduate students. And undergrads who are interested in joining a mentorship relationship and match them together based on their interests and what their goals are after graduating from college. For example, in Nick’s case, he wants to go to med school, so they matched him with someone who has experience in medicine. My other mentee, Naya , is interested in getting a master’s degree, so I’m helping her with a graduate school application and how to get recommendation letters and how to improve her CV to be competitive for that graduate program.
HAYA: Thank you for sharing that.
Mentorship can look different for everyone. Nick, like you mentioned, you have had multiple mentors and Nour you’ve had multiple mentees. So how would you describe your mentoring relationship, the two of you, and what has it personally meant to the two of you?
NOUR: So everyone in the research or the medical field has had a mentor at some point in their life, and I wanted to be a part of this.
I wanted to find people who want a different perspective and a different point of view. And I wanted to share that, as much as I can from my experience, even if it’s not the most extensive, but I think actively trying to be a mentor for someone or give advice to someone who is asking for it, is just paying it back because all of us had have had mentors during our, professional career.
NICOLAS: [Nour], I just love the fact that in Egypt, you were a physician, right?
NOUR: Yes!
NICOLAS: Yeah. So because of that. I get advice from someone who’s been already through all the medical school and exams process. Someone who already knows, who’s already in the position, where I, where I want to be. That is just something that I really look up to.
And, it’s just great having someone in that position where I can ask any question who I can go for advice. Who’s there to support me. And also, of course, Nour is a great guy. He’s very fun to talk to. We, we often go to get some food and it’s just, it’s fun having someone who understands my position, all the stress and all the work and everything that comes with being a pre-medicine student.
So, it is just, it’s a fun way of learning the best way. To accomplish my goals, and it’s just, and it’s another friend of mine that supports me and just helps me get through all this hard, hard work.
NOUR: So, Nick already came with a lot of advice from his previous mentor, so my contribution to his current goal is minimal with just follow ups and, making sure that anything missing in his resume or CV is achieved before he finishes his undergrad, which is great because he has multiple perspectives, which is a privilege to be honest.
My other mentee, that’s her first time being in the program, so we are working closer and more extensively, I would say, because she wants to get into a graduate school program this year.
So for both of my mentees, Nick and Naya, we meet two times a month. We follow up on the goals that we put the previous, on the previous meeting, and we just talk about anything that we wanna talk about in order to reach the goal that they want.
HAYA: Thank you guys for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing from both of you about how you perceive this mentorship relationship and what you enjoy about each other.
In honor of National Mentoring Month, why do you believe that mentorship is important in higher education? I know, no, you talked a little bit about its importance in research, but what does this do to help you build your VCU community professional development and even beyond that?
NICOLAS: We come here to learn and to experience, , you know, new things in new careers, new fields of study. And when it comes to that, the classroom is not enough to learn so much about the real world. There are so many opportunities out there. There are so many things you could do to make sure you do well in your career.
So, mentoring is an essential part of education, in my opinion. That’s where you get to learn from people that have been in your position before and they can teach you what they did and what worked, what didn’t work, and they can make sure you have the right tools to get where you want to be.
NOUR: I agree with Nick!
And also I wanna say that mentorship is not a one way road. All of us learn from each other because everyone in VCU has a different experience and different perspectives are very important to be exposed to in order to know things that we are all biased toward our own opinion. So getting a different perspective from someone who has different experience is valuable for anyone.
And VCU has students and faculty and staff from. A lot of different disciplines and the goal of science is to bring those individuals with their experiences from those different disciplines together in order to help both ourselves and the community.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think you did a really good job of tying that together, Nour at the end finally.
What advice do you guys want to give to other students, whether undergrad or graduate, who are considering participating in a mentoring relationship or program, but maybe they’re unsure about taking that first step? What would you guys advise them to do for undergraduates?
NICOLAS: I will highly advise you find a mentor as soon as possible. Because it’s just a great way to. Know what you should do next or what not to do next. Mentors are just a great way. They give you kind of a heads up on your career. They know where, like, where to go, where to find opportunities. They can just help you so much get ahead in your career goals, and it’s just an incredible way of making relationships, making connections, and expanding your network.
So looking for mentoring will be, I will say, one of like the main things you should do in undergraduate school.
NOUR: I agree with Nick and also to undergraduate students, I think an advice would [be] like, a good advice would be starting or it doesn’t have a mentorship program and doesn’t have to be official.
It doesn’t have to be through an arranged program like the graduate school mentorship program, however. Any opportunity that you can get to find someone else who can give you their opinion, especially if they have experience relevant to what you’re asking is not gonna harm you. It is actually gonna give you a solution to possible problems that you might experience later in your path.
And, if you think you are doing everything perfectly, that is. In most cases not true, and you will not know that without getting someone else’s opinion. It doesn’t have to be someone older than you. It can be a colleague, it can be a parent, a family member. Just don’t be shy to ask questions. And, for graduate students, I would say mentorship is probably already a part of your career.
You got taught a lot of things through people that you met throughout your career, so I think it’s the best next step for you to share this knowledge with people around you.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think that’s the beauty of it all. Every mentor was once a mentee, and the hope and goal is to continue that cycle.
Thank you both for sharing your perspectives today, Nour and Nicolas. Your experiences highlight how mentorship creates space for growth, confidence, and connection. Whether your mentee is going to med school or starting a graduate program. I love the beauty of, , finding commonalities and being able to support your mentees in whichever step of the process they are.
And for you mentees to openly receive that guidance and really take full advantage and be resourceful with this relationship. So thank you all for listening. National Mentorship Month is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have supported us along the way and to consider how we might support them in return.
Graduate education is not about the degrees we earn. That’s another reminder, but about the relationships we built throughout the way.
CREDITS:
HAYA: Grad Pod is produced by VCU’s Graduate School. Haya Hamid is our host. Our producer and editor is Grace Albritton. Our theme music was composed, performed, and recorded by Austin Sellek and Claudia Andrade, students of Felipe Leitao, assistant Professor of Composition and Sound Design at VCU School of the Arts.
Do you have a question for us? Email us at grad school@vcu.edu and we may answer your question on an episode!HAYA: Happy New Year and welcome back to Grad Pod, the podcast where we spotlight stories, experiences, and voices shaping graduate education at VCU. I’m your host, Haya Hamid, and today’s episode is in honor of National Mentoring Month. A time to recognize the importance of guidance, support, and connection in higher education.
Mentorship plays a meaningful role in helping both graduate and undergraduate students navigate their academic and professional journeys. And today, we are highlighting just that!
We’re highlighting that impact through one mentoring relationship at VCU. I am joined by Nicolas Morales, an undergraduate student in biology on the pre-med track, and Nour Abosamak, a PhD candidate in the Clinical and Translational Sciences program under the Wright Center for the Clinical and Translational Research, which is housed under the Office of Research and Innovation.
Nour is also serving as Nicolas’ mentor. Fun fact, they are both international students. Nour is joining us from Egypt and Nicolas is joining us from Colombia.
Thank you both for being here and welcome to the grad pod!
NOUR: Thank you for inviting me.
NICHOLAS: Yeah, thank you so much for the invitation.
HAYA: Yeah, it is so nice to have you guys here. I think this is our first time having two guests on the grad pod, so this is exciting.
To begin, I’d like to start with some introductions. Can you guys share with us a little bit about your program and how long you’ve been at VCU and what you plan to do once you complete your program?
And we can start with you, Nour.
NOUR: So, my program concentrates on translational research, which is translating theoretical findings. From the bench to bedside. So, translating applications from one population to the other, testing different methods. My personal research that I’m doing under the program involves using AI as a tool to improve health literacy specifically around oral cancer.
NICHOLAS: So, for me, I am a biology major. I started a couple years ago. It’s been taking a bunch of biology classes, chemistry classes, getting used to the basic sciences behind medicine. I have also had the privilege of participating in an internship, which I did last summer with the Pauly Heart Center. I was able to attend classes about the heart anatomy, medicine, how it works, and I also got the chance to meet my current mentor, Dr. Anin. I’m with her. I’ve been learning more about cancer. I have to treat it. I’ve been helping, volunteering , helping them investigate new treatments for breast cancer. I am just learning more about her previous research. I’m currently still doing the volunteering, helping as much as I can in my free time.
I’ve also worked at VCU, I started as a front desk worker. I was at the CLC at the Campus Learning Center. I just attended phone calls and managed the tutoring, and I am now, I just became a tutor for organic chemistry and biology classes.
Thank you guys for sharing. You certainly stay busy, I wanna get a little bit more into your mentoring relationship.
HAYA: My first question for both of you is, how did your mentoring relationship begin and what motivated you to get involved in this experience? Maybe could you guys talk a little bit about the graduate school mentorship program and how that pairing came along?
NICOLAS: Last year or a year ago? I first started with my previous mentor.
Yeah, I was looking for some guidance, in the medical field because in my family, I’m the first one to attend college in America, and of course it is very different from what it’s like in Colombia. So I just wanted to have someone. That’s been in this position before, you could, you know, give me some advice, tell me what to do and what not to do, and just how to prepare for medical school.
So, first, and it was great, he was doing a master’s at the time. He is currently in med school at UVA and he will always be there to support me. He will explain to me step by step what the process of becoming a doctor is, you know, going to med school, residency, fellowship, all these steps. He will explain it in detail.
We will discuss possible specialties, what he wanted to do in specific. And it was a great, great way of just learning more about the medical field here in America. And now, this year, it was, was it, I had the privilege of meeting Nour, as my new mentor. So with him, I’ve also got the chance to discuss medical school.
He’s given me a lot of advice and it’s just also having someone with a different perspective also helps a lot, you know, someone who came from Egypt. Different perspectives, different advice. Just the more advice it can get, the better.
NOUR: The Graduate School Mentorship program is a program hosted by the graduate school where they find graduate students. And undergrads who are interested in joining a mentorship relationship and match them together based on their interests and what their goals are after graduating from college. For example, in Nick’s case, he wants to go to med school, so they matched him with someone who has experience in medicine. My other mentee, Naya , is interested in getting a master’s degree, so I’m helping her with a graduate school application and how to get recommendation letters and how to improve her CV to be competitive for that graduate program.
HAYA: Thank you for sharing that.
Mentorship can look different for everyone. Nick, like you mentioned, you have had multiple mentors and Nour you’ve had multiple mentees. So how would you describe your mentoring relationship, the two of you, and what has it personally meant to the two of you?
NOUR: So everyone in the research or the medical field has had a mentor at some point in their life, and I wanted to be a part of this.
I wanted to find people who want a different perspective and a different point of view. And I wanted to share that, as much as I can from my experience, even if it’s not the most extensive, but I think actively trying to be a mentor for someone or give advice to someone who is asking for it, is just paying it back because all of us had have had mentors during our, professional career.
NICOLAS: [Nour], I just love the fact that in Egypt, you were a physician, right?
NOUR: Yes!
NICOLAS: Yeah. So because of that. I get advice from someone who’s been already through all the medical school and exams process. Someone who already knows, who’s already in the position, where I, where I want to be. That is just something that I really look up to.
And, it’s just great having someone in that position where I can ask any question who I can go for advice. Who’s there to support me. And also, of course, Nour is a great guy. He’s very fun to talk to. We, we often go to get some food and it’s just, it’s fun having someone who understands my position, all the stress and all the work and everything that comes with being a pre-medicine student.
So, it is just, it’s a fun way of learning the best way. To accomplish my goals, and it’s just, and it’s another friend of mine that supports me and just helps me get through all this hard, hard work.
NOUR: So, Nick already came with a lot of advice from his previous mentor, so my contribution to his current goal is minimal with just follow ups and, making sure that anything missing in his resume or CV is achieved before he finishes his undergrad, which is great because he has multiple perspectives, which is a privilege to be honest.
My other mentee, that’s her first time being in the program, so we are working closer and more extensively, I would say, because she wants to get into a graduate school program this year.
So for both of my mentees, Nick and Naya, we meet two times a month. We follow up on the goals that we put the previous, on the previous meeting, and we just talk about anything that we wanna talk about in order to reach the goal that they want.
HAYA: Thank you guys for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing from both of you about how you perceive this mentorship relationship and what you enjoy about each other.
In honor of National Mentoring Month, why do you believe that mentorship is important in higher education? I know, no, you talked a little bit about its importance in research, but what does this do to help you build your VCU community professional development and even beyond that?
NICOLAS: We come here to learn and to experience, , you know, new things in new careers, new fields of study. And when it comes to that, the classroom is not enough to learn so much about the real world. There are so many opportunities out there. There are so many things you could do to make sure you do well in your career.
So, mentoring is an essential part of education, in my opinion. That’s where you get to learn from people that have been in your position before and they can teach you what they did and what worked, what didn’t work, and they can make sure you have the right tools to get where you want to be.
NOUR: I agree with Nick!
And also I wanna say that mentorship is not a one way road. All of us learn from each other because everyone in VCU has a different experience and different perspectives are very important to be exposed to in order to know things that we are all biased toward our own opinion. So getting a different perspective from someone who has different experience is valuable for anyone.
And VCU has students and faculty and staff from. A lot of different disciplines and the goal of science is to bring those individuals with their experiences from those different disciplines together in order to help both ourselves and the community.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think you did a really good job of tying that together, Nour at the end finally.
What advice do you guys want to give to other students, whether undergrad or graduate, who are considering participating in a mentoring relationship or program, but maybe they’re unsure about taking that first step? What would you guys advise them to do for undergraduates?
NICOLAS: I will highly advise you find a mentor as soon as possible. Because it’s just a great way to. Know what you should do next or what not to do next. Mentors are just a great way. They give you kind of a heads up on your career. They know where, like, where to go, where to find opportunities. They can just help you so much get ahead in your career goals, and it’s just an incredible way of making relationships, making connections, and expanding your network.
So looking for mentoring will be, I will say, one of like the main things you should do in undergraduate school.
NOUR: I agree with Nick and also to undergraduate students, I think an advice would [be] like, a good advice would be starting or it doesn’t have a mentorship program and doesn’t have to be official.
It doesn’t have to be through an arranged program like the graduate school mentorship program, however. Any opportunity that you can get to find someone else who can give you their opinion, especially if they have experience relevant to what you’re asking is not gonna harm you. It is actually gonna give you a solution to possible problems that you might experience later in your path.
And, if you think you are doing everything perfectly, that is. In most cases not true, and you will not know that without getting someone else’s opinion. It doesn’t have to be someone older than you. It can be a colleague, it can be a parent, a family member. Just don’t be shy to ask questions. And, for graduate students, I would say mentorship is probably already a part of your career.
You got taught a lot of things through people that you met throughout your career, so I think it’s the best next step for you to share this knowledge with people around you.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think that’s the beauty of it all. Every mentor was once a mentee, and the hope and goal is to continue that cycle.
Thank you both for sharing your perspectives today, Nour and Nicolas. Your experiences highlight how mentorship creates space for growth, confidence, and connection. Whether your mentee is going to med school or starting a graduate program. I love the beauty of, , finding commonalities and being able to support your mentees in whichever step of the process they are.
And for you mentees to openly receive that guidance and really take full advantage and be resourceful with this relationship. So thank you all for listening. National Mentorship Month is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have supported us along the way and to consider how we might support them in return.
Graduate education is not about the degrees we earn. That’s another reminder, but about the relationships we built throughout the way.
HAYA: Happy New Year and welcome back to Grad Pod, the podcast where we spotlight stories, experiences, and voices shaping graduate education at VCU. I’m your host, Haya Hamid, and today’s episode is in honor of National Mentoring Month. A time to recognize the importance of guidance, support, and connection in higher education.
Mentorship plays a meaningful role in helping both graduate and undergraduate students navigate their academic and professional journeys. And today, we are highlighting just that!
We’re highlighting that impact through one mentoring relationship at VCU. I am joined by Nicolas Morales, an undergraduate student in biology on the pre-med track, and Nour Abosamak, a PhD candidate in the Clinical and Translational Sciences program under the Wright Center for the Clinical and Translational Research, which is housed under the Office of Research and Innovation.
Nour is also serving as Nicolas’ mentor. Fun fact, they are both international students. Nour is joining us from Egypt and Nicolas is joining us from Colombia.
Thank you both for being here and welcome to the grad pod!
NOUR: Thank you for inviting me.
NICHOLAS: Yeah, thank you so much for the invitation.
HAYA: Yeah, it is so nice to have you guys here. I think this is our first time having two guests on the grad pod, so this is exciting.
To begin, I’d like to start with some introductions. Can you guys share with us a little bit about your program and how long you’ve been at VCU and what you plan to do once you complete your program?
And we can start with you, Nour.
NOUR: So, my program concentrates on translational research, which is translating theoretical findings. From the bench to bedside. So, translating applications from one population to the other, testing different methods. My personal research that I’m doing under the program involves using AI as a tool to improve health literacy specifically around oral cancer.
NICHOLAS: So, for me, I am a biology major. I started a couple years ago. It’s been taking a bunch of biology classes, chemistry classes, getting used to the basic sciences behind medicine. I have also had the privilege of participating in an internship, which I did last summer with the Pauly Heart Center. I was able to attend classes about the heart anatomy, medicine, how it works, and I also got the chance to meet my current mentor, Dr. Anin. I’m with her. I’ve been learning more about cancer. I have to treat it. I’ve been helping, volunteering , helping them investigate new treatments for breast cancer. I am just learning more about her previous research. I’m currently still doing the volunteering, helping as much as I can in my free time.
I’ve also worked at VCU, I started as a front desk worker. I was at the CLC at the Campus Learning Center. I just attended phone calls and managed the tutoring, and I am now, I just became a tutor for organic chemistry and biology classes.
Thank you guys for sharing. You certainly stay busy, I wanna get a little bit more into your mentoring relationship.
HAYA: My first question for both of you is, how did your mentoring relationship begin and what motivated you to get involved in this experience? Maybe could you guys talk a little bit about the graduate school mentorship program and how that pairing came along?
NICOLAS: Last year or a year ago? I first started with my previous mentor.
Yeah, I was looking for some guidance, in the medical field because in my family, I’m the first one to attend college in America, and of course it is very different from what it’s like in Colombia. So I just wanted to have someone. That’s been in this position before, you could, you know, give me some advice, tell me what to do and what not to do, and just how to prepare for medical school.
So, first, and it was great, he was doing a master’s at the time. He is currently in med school at UVA and he will always be there to support me. He will explain to me step by step what the process of becoming a doctor is, you know, going to med school, residency, fellowship, all these steps. He will explain it in detail.
We will discuss possible specialties, what he wanted to do in specific. And it was a great, great way of just learning more about the medical field here in America. And now, this year, it was, was it, I had the privilege of meeting Nour, as my new mentor. So with him, I’ve also got the chance to discuss medical school.
He’s given me a lot of advice and it’s just also having someone with a different perspective also helps a lot, you know, someone who came from Egypt. Different perspectives, different advice. Just the more advice it can get, the better.
NOUR: The Graduate School Mentorship program is a program hosted by the graduate school where they find graduate students. And undergrads who are interested in joining a mentorship relationship and match them together based on their interests and what their goals are after graduating from college. For example, in Nick’s case, he wants to go to med school, so they matched him with someone who has experience in medicine. My other mentee, Naya , is interested in getting a master’s degree, so I’m helping her with a graduate school application and how to get recommendation letters and how to improve her CV to be competitive for that graduate program.
HAYA: Thank you for sharing that.
Mentorship can look different for everyone. Nick, like you mentioned, you have had multiple mentors and Nour you’ve had multiple mentees. So how would you describe your mentoring relationship, the two of you, and what has it personally meant to the two of you?
NOUR: So everyone in the research or the medical field has had a mentor at some point in their life, and I wanted to be a part of this.
I wanted to find people who want a different perspective and a different point of view. And I wanted to share that, as much as I can from my experience, even if it’s not the most extensive, but I think actively trying to be a mentor for someone or give advice to someone who is asking for it, is just paying it back because all of us had have had mentors during our, professional career.
NICOLAS: [Nour], I just love the fact that in Egypt, you were a physician, right?
NOUR: Yes!
NICOLAS: Yeah. So because of that. I get advice from someone who’s been already through all the medical school and exams process. Someone who already knows, who’s already in the position, where I, where I want to be. That is just something that I really look up to.
And, it’s just great having someone in that position where I can ask any question who I can go for advice. Who’s there to support me. And also, of course, Nour is a great guy. He’s very fun to talk to. We, we often go to get some food and it’s just, it’s fun having someone who understands my position, all the stress and all the work and everything that comes with being a pre-medicine student.
So, it is just, it’s a fun way of learning the best way. To accomplish my goals, and it’s just, and it’s another friend of mine that supports me and just helps me get through all this hard, hard work.
NOUR: So, Nick already came with a lot of advice from his previous mentor, so my contribution to his current goal is minimal with just follow ups and, making sure that anything missing in his resume or CV is achieved before he finishes his undergrad, which is great because he has multiple perspectives, which is a privilege to be honest.
My other mentee, that’s her first time being in the program, so we are working closer and more extensively, I would say, because she wants to get into a graduate school program this year.
So for both of my mentees, Nick and Naya, we meet two times a month. We follow up on the goals that we put the previous, on the previous meeting, and we just talk about anything that we wanna talk about in order to reach the goal that they want.
HAYA: Thank you guys for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing from both of you about how you perceive this mentorship relationship and what you enjoy about each other.
In honor of National Mentoring Month, why do you believe that mentorship is important in higher education? I know, no, you talked a little bit about its importance in research, but what does this do to help you build your VCU community professional development and even beyond that?
NICOLAS: We come here to learn and to experience, , you know, new things in new careers, new fields of study. And when it comes to that, the classroom is not enough to learn so much about the real world. There are so many opportunities out there. There are so many things you could do to make sure you do well in your career.
So, mentoring is an essential part of education, in my opinion. That’s where you get to learn from people that have been in your position before and they can teach you what they did and what worked, what didn’t work, and they can make sure you have the right tools to get where you want to be.
NOUR: I agree with Nick!
And also I wanna say that mentorship is not a one way road. All of us learn from each other because everyone in VCU has a different experience and different perspectives are very important to be exposed to in order to know things that we are all biased toward our own opinion. So getting a different perspective from someone who has different experience is valuable for anyone.
And VCU has students and faculty and staff from. A lot of different disciplines and the goal of science is to bring those individuals with their experiences from those different disciplines together in order to help both ourselves and the community.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think you did a really good job of tying that together, Nour at the end finally.
What advice do you guys want to give to other students, whether undergrad or graduate, who are considering participating in a mentoring relationship or program, but maybe they’re unsure about taking that first step? What would you guys advise them to do for undergraduates?
NICOLAS: I will highly advise you find a mentor as soon as possible. Because it’s just a great way to. Know what you should do next or what not to do next. Mentors are just a great way. They give you kind of a heads up on your career. They know where, like, where to go, where to find opportunities. They can just help you so much get ahead in your career goals, and it’s just an incredible way of making relationships, making connections, and expanding your network.
So looking for mentoring will be, I will say, one of like the main things you should do in undergraduate school.
NOUR: I agree with Nick and also to undergraduate students, I think an advice would [be] like, a good advice would be starting or it doesn’t have a mentorship program and doesn’t have to be official.
It doesn’t have to be through an arranged program like the graduate school mentorship program, however. Any opportunity that you can get to find someone else who can give you their opinion, especially if they have experience relevant to what you’re asking is not gonna harm you. It is actually gonna give you a solution to possible problems that you might experience later in your path.
And, if you think you are doing everything perfectly, that is. In most cases not true, and you will not know that without getting someone else’s opinion. It doesn’t have to be someone older than you. It can be a colleague, it can be a parent, a family member. Just don’t be shy to ask questions. And, for graduate students, I would say mentorship is probably already a part of your career.
You got taught a lot of things through people that you met throughout your career, so I think it’s the best next step for you to share this knowledge with people around you.
HAYA: Absolutely. I think that’s the beauty of it all. Every mentor was once a mentee, and the hope and goal is to continue that cycle.
Thank you both for sharing your perspectives today, Nour and Nicolas. Your experiences highlight how mentorship creates space for growth, confidence, and connection. Whether your mentee is going to med school or starting a graduate program. I love the beauty of, , finding commonalities and being able to support your mentees in whichever step of the process they are.
And for you mentees to openly receive that guidance and really take full advantage and be resourceful with this relationship. So thank you all for listening. National Mentorship Month is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have supported us along the way and to consider how we might support them in return.
Graduate education is not about the degrees we earn. That’s another reminder, but about the relationships we built throughout the way.
CREDITS:
HAYA: Grad Pod is produced by VCU’s Graduate School. Haya Hamid is our host. Our producer and editor is Grace Albritton. Our theme music was composed, performed, and recorded by Austin Sellek and Claudia Andrade, students of Felipe Leitao, assistant Professor of Composition and Sound Design at VCU School of the Arts.
Do you have a question for us? Email us at grad school@vcu.edu and we may answer your question on an episode!
HAYA: Grad Pod is produced by VCU’s Graduate School. Haya Hamid is our host. Our producer and editor is Grace Albritton. Our theme music was composed, performed, and recorded by Austin Sellek and Claudia Andrade, students of Felipe Leitao, assistant Professor of Composition and Sound Design at VCU School of the Arts.
Do you have a question for us? Email us at grad school@vcu.edu and we may answer your question on an episode!
HAYA: Grad Pod is produced by VCU’s Graduate School. Haya Hamid is our host. Our producer and editor is Grace Albritton. Our theme music was composed, performed, and recorded by Austin Sellek and Claudia Andrade, students of Felipe Leitao, assistant Professor of Composition and Sound Design at VCU School of the Arts.
Do you have a question for us? Email us at grad school@vcu.edu and we may answer your question on an episode!
