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Graham was approachable and easy to talk to, which made me feel comfortable with asking him questions and discuss my work. His PhD background and experience seemed fairly close to my own, so he was able to understand and offer advice related to my particular field. I think this was the most useful aspect of the mentoring. He was also well organised and helped set up our online meetings, which I was grateful for. I appreciate all the advice he shared with me.

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Jenna-Marie's warm personality made building rapport and developing a valuable mentoring relationship really easy, and allowed us to have frank and open conversations which were immensely helpful to me - both around the thesis process and sharing experiences of motherhood in academia and work. I found her generosity with time and feedback really useful in helping me plan the direction of my thesis and work towards achieving it. Not least, she made me feel like getting to the end was possible!

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I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my thesis mentor, Joulie Axelithioti, for her continuous support and guidance throughout the thesis writing process. Her constructive feedback, encouragement, and willingness to share her expertise greatly contributed to the development of my work. I am truly grateful for her time, and support.

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Mhairi met me at a difficult time. . . she helped me make an informed choice about my suspension. She helped ease my anxiety. Thank you!

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It has been really great, she has been kind, funny, patient and help me so much to build my self esteem by sharing some of her journey with me. Her input and guidance was invaluable . I feel that I have found a friend for life. I have learnt so much from her.

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Celeste was a great mentor; she is patient and positive, and full of practical advice. I appreciate all your time and effort, and feel much more prepared for thesis writing armed with the tools that we talked about. Thank you!

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I’ve greatly appreciated my chats with Neil; never content with simple encouragement, he always made sure I had some realistic and practical suggestions to experiment with. Somewhere in my ramblings, he helped me realise what was stressing me and why with both the thesis itself (who knew it was as mundane as my document not having any page breaks!) and with longer-term career concerns. I have come away with plenty of techniques for the thesis and plans for the future – one that doesn’t sound half so scary now thanks to his rare job market optimism. Thanks Neil!

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I am so incredibly pleased and grateful that I was matched with Samantha as my Mentor. She is so patient, kind, open, friendly and generous with her time, her knowledge and experience. Sam was able to help me to overcome something that I was really stuck with - my Literature Review, and during the course of our mentoring partnership there was a profound change for me in this area. I'm now up and running with the Literature Review, much more confident and excited to be writing more. Sam also offered her knowledge and experience of working towards thesis submission and of the Viva, which has helped me to keep a focus on that spot on the horizon - the thing I'm working towards will come! I loved meeting with Sam and always learned from her and valued her perspectives, her questions and her listening (and she was SO patient when I sometimes talked and talked and talked non-stop!) Sam has a real gift as a Mentor, and I am lucky to be a recipient of this gift.

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My mentor has been helpful towards my final stages of writing as it managed to reshape parts of my strategy to academic discourse and structure. He was helpful in many ways. His actions showed his dedication and generosity in helping me with my academic writing, given his background. He demonstrated a professional ability to mentor me and my writing which is outside his expertise. Even without specific background in qualitative studies, he consistently guided me to the essence and core structures of academic writing. He managed to break complex requirements into clear, manageable strategies easier for a writer to manage. He further provided links to tips and documents on how to improvise on writing. Despite the formal writing guidance, his motivation and endless encouragement was beyond the support for the thesis, but I know it will be necessary for my academic lifelong success. I value the time spent with my mentor and this cross-disciplinary guidance sets him to be an exemplary mentor.

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Lisa has a very calmly nature about her. She listened carefully to what you are saying, at times being able to verbalise what I struggled to say. She shared her experiences and made helpful suggestions about how to improve my thesis writing. It was lovely to have someone external to chat issues through while helping me move forward with my writing.

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Sarah had a very positive attitude. What really made the difference was her encouraging me to focus on daily progress rather than concentrating on the whole thesis at once. I also really appreciated that she shared some of her personal experiences and engaged in lighter conversations, which helped make the interactions feel supportive and relaxed while still being professional, but never distant, rigid, or too formal. The idiom she shared with me: "eat an elephant one bite at a time" enlightened me.

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M mentor is wonderful. All the time since the beginning till now, we organise the weekly meeting. the meeting always talks about the thesis. Each meeting not talk to only general topic but we discuss specific to 1-2 on going work. The mentor both reflect and mention what I said, what was I being working on, what the scope. When I describe, I never know what I am doing on, I meant what the process I am done or doing, but the mentor conclude to me or they talk oh you did this that, this can help me to know what process I was done. It is like helping me to think systematic or scientific than just do without understanding. This can help us not only thesis writing, task management but give us confidence on thesis process and essence.

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Entering the second year of my PhD I knew I needed support with my methodology. The thesis mentoring process provided the space, time, accountability and expert support to focus in on developing this section of my thesis. My mentor has great listening and questioning skills, but was also warm, curious and affirming. This has made a significant difference to my confidence and development as an academic.

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It is hard to lay yourself bare and explain where your failings are. Aline made that very easy. Never judgemental, always supportive. Every call gave me something to think about and carry forward. I also had the confidence to ask Aline any daft question about different writing and impact. She was incredibly patient and flexible. Thank you!

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Super friendly and supportive and gave me really invaluable advice!

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The mentoring partnership has been a valuable and reassuring experience for me. As a PhD student navigating the challenges of thesis writing, having someone who could genuinely relate to my journey made a real difference. My mentor was warm, encouraging, and non-judgemental. Her ability to listen, empathise, and offer practical advice helped me feel more confident and less isolated. It was especially meaningful to be matched with someone of a similar background, as we could easily connect on both an academic and cultural level. Her approachability, calm nature, and ability to normalise struggles I was facing gave me the motivation to keep going. She shared tips on managing workload, staying motivated, and setting realistic goals—all of which I found incredibly helpful. This partnership reminded me of the power of community and the importance of having someone in your corner who believes in your potential.

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Matthew was an amazing mentor who really encouraged and motivated me to finally get started with the writing of my thesis. I learned from him that it is often the initial step that one needs to make in order to kick off a regular writing process and to get things going. He always encouraged me to discover my own solutions and find out what works best for me, often by suggesting me to test alternative approaches and then decide which of them to follow. By now, I definitely feel much more confident in my writing thanks to him! I very much enjoyed the regular meetings with Matthew and would certainly recommend him for the Mentor Hall of Fame!

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This mentorship has meant so much to me. Celeste didn’t just guide me—she walked me through her own journey with such patience, making everything feel less overwhelming. What really stood out: 1. She was always reliable: Quick replies, super flexible, and gave me weeks' notice if she was busy. Never left me hanging. 2. Truly listened: Never pushed advice, but when I asked about her experiences? She’d light up sharing. And she’d genuinely celebrate my little wins—like, properly happy for me. 3. Quietly inspired me: Watching her organize everything (color-coded plans included!) made me want to step up my own game. She didn’t just talk the talk—she showed me how to do this with heart. I’ll carry that forward.

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When I joined the programme, it was out of desperation. I was in such an anxious and confused state that I was unable to string together sentences coherently on the page, let alone work on the thesis. Working with Rhoda has helped get me to a place where I can see my way back to enjoying writing, and the thesis feels possible in the way it hasn't for almost two years. I would like to thank her for that.

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The mentoring partnership has reshaped my academic practice by instilling disciplined organisation and a sustainable writing rhythm. Tabitha’s practical approach to project planning, daily/weekly goal-setting and periodic “review and reset” sessions, has sharpened my prioritisation and workload forecasting, mitigating the fragmentation of effort experienced thus far. Equally impactful has been the recommendation of a protected daily writing slot and the use of output-oriented logs, echoing evidence that small, regular increments outperform sporadic marathons. The understanding that imperfect drafts normalised iterative refinement and reduced perfectionist paralysis, while the empathetic accountability cultivated self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. By modelling transparency about their writing pipeline and sharing practical advice, they transformed abstract principles into reproducible routines. Consequently, I now navigate complex research tasks with greater clarity and maintain a dependable writing habit that steadily converts ideas into peer-reviewed contributions.

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Katherine is an excellent mentor. She met me at a time when my life beyond the PhD was incredibly stressful and was preventing me from making progress. Even when I was upset and overwhelmed, she responded calmly and practically, sharing her own experiences and perspectives while respecting my boundaries and privacy. She made me appreciate that there are different ways of approaching work and that it's OK to ask for the accommodations you need. I feel better able to appreciate my successes along the way to (hopefully!) completing my thesis now and this has helped me to feel more engaged and motivated.

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Alexandre is an excellent mentor. He is patient and gives great feedback. I always took something new and informative out of each meeting. He really helped me gain more confidence in the writing process. I am very grateful for the time he took to meet. He definitely deserves to be recognised.

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The mentoring partnership has been a deeply meaningful part of my PhD journey. I joined the programme hoping for both emotional support and help thinking through some general academic questions. Dr Ewan's calm, thoughtful presence and genuine kindness created a space where I could speak openly about challenges without fear of judgment.  I’m sincerely grateful for Dr Ewan’s generosity and grounded guidance throughout this experience.

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Jenna-Marie is a person who goes above and beyond as a mentor. She is willing to be flexible, kind and patient, always with a good word. She is highly organized, proactive and knowledgeable. She has a great sense of humour and uses this to be compassionate and understanding in her approach to the mentorship. I felt from the start that I was lucky to have someone next to me that as willing to pivot with challenges that I have endured and help me find solutions. I wholeheartedly nominate Jenna-Marie Lundy for the Mentor Hall of Fame.

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Through this mentoring programme, I have received many practical and valuable suggestions on academic writing, which I will continue to apply in my future thesis. Moreover, through our conversations, my perspective on doing a PhD has gradually shifted—I now feel more open to trying activities I once felt hesitant about. This experience has also helped me gain greater clarity about my future goals. One of the most impactful qualities my mentor has shown is the ability to identify key issues even from my vague descriptions. He is sincere and encouraging, which has motivated me to face challenges more positively. Additionally, he has taken everything I shared—whether spoken or written—seriously, always providing thoughtful and constructive feedback. His support has truly made a difference to my confidence and development.

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Conversations with Cole have been like a magical compass - amidst the evolving demands of life and the thesis, they are an invaluable place to find centre, gain clarity and to stimulate new ideas and directions. From feeling overwhelmed by the research amidst a swirl of freelance work, family care, I began to see the thesis as a project that with some strategic tweaks, could be made into a manageable, even enjoyable, process with an end point. Cole instantly attuned to both where I was at as a researcher and the research itself. He could see the project's needs in a way I couldn't yet perceive, and listened with empathy to where I was at. His questions helped me find pragmatic solutions, and insights, gained from having been through the process himself, helped me find a new way of relating to the work. A sense of excitement and confidence returned.

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She was very kind and nice, always listened, and gave me good advice. Thanks.

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My thesis mentor has been absolutely incredible, and I genuinely believe I wouldn’t be where I am (working with a full draft of my thesis) without her support. At a point when I was close to giving up, she helped pull me back with such care, encouragement, and practical guidance. Her belief in me, even when I struggled to believe in myself, made a huge difference. She has a real gift for listening without judgement, helping me untangle my thoughts, and reminding me of the value in my work. Her kindness, patience, and deep understanding of the academic process have helped me feel less alone and more capable. What’s been most important is that she never tried to 'fix' things for me, she empowered me to find my own way through. This partnership has meant more than I can say, and I’ll carry the impact of her mentorship with me well beyond this thesis.

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I very much appreciate the conversations I have had with Mayukh. He has been available and always had good advice.

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Kostas has been an absolutely brilliant mentor for me this semester. When I started the programme, I was feeling a bit overloaded with juggling writing alongside parenting, teaching, and a conference submission. Kostas made me realise through his questions that I had unrealistic expectations of myself, and was perhaps not taking stock of what I have already achieved and being confident in my abilities. I started keeping a reflective writing journal on his advice - which I still do today - reflecting on my successes rather than seeing the PhD as a rod to beat myself with. I began to see the PhD more as an opportunity to show off the cool stuff I had found out in my research, instead of this idea I had of it being this quite boring book of rigorous theory about absolutely everything in my field. I also stopped feeling guilty about time away from the PhD. All of this meant that I was able to write a chapter relatively quickly and quite enjoyed it, and I presented my findings at conference much more enthusiastically than I would have otherwise. Not only would I have been a massive ball of stress for 4 months without Kostas, but I'd also not have produced as good work and potentially started disliking my PhD. He was also an excellent listener, and knew intuitively when I wanted him to chip in with some suggestions and when I just wanted to vent. And little things like remembering what we had talked about each meeting and what I was up to made such a difference. All in all, Kostas has been a transformative mentor! Thank you!

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Beth is a great listener. She let me waffle on about the challenges I was facing and always gave very helpful and encouraging feedback in a friendly, open and honest manner attentive to my challenges and helpful about relating to them from her own experiences. She was always flexible and accommodating in setting up the Mentoring Sessions or making changes which my schedule might have required. She was willing to share tips about organising her time, her data, dealing with her supervisors and getting the thesis over the line – all incredibly useful and relatable for me. She was patient and genuinely interested in my challenges and my progress. A natural mentor!

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The mentoring partnership has helped me demystify and clarify many concerns and questions I had about writing. We exchanged opinions on both fundamental and crucial topics, such as GPT, the writing process, writing habits, and software tools. These discussions greatly helped me understand the broader landscape of writing and laid the foundation for developing my own writing process. Through our conversations, I gradually built a clearer approach to writing. I feel much more confident about getting started, and I have a clearer mindset when it comes to writing. This experience has made writing feel less intimidating and more manageable, and I’m truly grateful for the support and guidance I received.

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Good listener, considerate, and insightful. He helped me identify my blind spots and introduced techniques to approach writing effectively. He also went the extra mile to guide me in approaching my conference poster. He was available throughout the program and enthusiastic about supporting me. He became a friend of mine.

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The mentoring partnership was incredibly helpful. My mentor was sweet, thoughtful, and always encouraging. She motivated me by setting small, achievable goals that kept me on track and focused. Her support made the thesis process feel manageable and less stressful.

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This was a truly transformative experience. Rhona's kindness, generosity, flexibility, knowledgeability, and dedication have made a huge difference to my progress and wellbeing. I have received excellent advice, highly useful and relevant feedback, and nothing but support and encouragement. She not only helped me navigate specific challenges at this stage in my PhD, but also helped me see things more clearly, feel more motivated and positive, and have a better sense of the relevance of my work and my potential place in the field. If I could change one thing about this relationship  - I would have it start much sooner!

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Evelyn is a fabulous mentor! She is good at listening my writing challenges and offer practical tips that I can practice without frustration. It is so much hard for me to export my ideas from my mother tongue and my practice experiences on the fieldwork. She always can have positive feedback and help me reflect on my original intention of doing research. During the mentoring process, I learned from her to keep my genuine voice with academic formats, and find a balance between my cultural identity and the academic English writing 🙂 It's a very pleasant and supportive mentoring relationship with Evelyn!

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I sincerely appreciated our talks as it reminded me to believe in myself no matter what I’m going through. As I was pretty anxious about writeup, I realised how I’m progressing after each meeting. She was approachable and very patient to listen to my worries and concerns. Also I heard so many useful advice, which proved to be useful in practice. Many many thanks Rosalia!

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This partnership encourages me to reflect on my progress, my thesis and my experience on a weekly basis. It pushes me to think of what I have done and what I have struggled with. Then my mentor would go through my doubts and break them down into smaller targets, making them feel more achievable. These skills are crucial to me because it is not only practical but also essential to build my confidence.

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I was already highly motivated to complete my PhD, the only question for me was in relation to the quality of finished product that I want to achieve. I think that due to my mentor's own wide-ranging academic, work and life experiences, she was able to home-in on things that mattered to me and identify aspects that perhaps I need self-clarification of. She was able to softly challenge my thought processes and without giving me answers, encourage me to think about alternatives. My mentor provided me with the 'icing on the cake', on top of the support that I get from my supervisors.

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I would like to express my gratitude for the support and guidance provided by my mentor. He was consistently supportive and attentive, offering valuable insights and practical advice at key stages of the process. One of the aspects I appreciated most was his encouragement to communicate clearly and confidently with my supervisor, which helped me to stay focused and better articulate my ideas. He also highlighted important issues in my work that I needed to be aware of, which improved the overall structure and clarity of my thesis. In addition, his advice to begin formatting early and not to leave it until the final stages helped me manage my time and reduce stress as deadlines approached. Mentoring was consistently helpful and reliable. His guidance played an important role in keeping me on track and building my confidence during the research and writing process. Overall, I am thankful for his support and would recommend him as a thoughtful and encouraging mentor.

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Aizhan boosted my confidence in my capabilities to complete this huge task of writing up my thesis. I'm very grateful to her for listening to my stories and for sharing her own. The most impactful thing she did was to remind me that I am making progress, and she did that every time we met.

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The mentoring partnership with Eleonore has been a deeply enriching experience, particularly given that we come from different academic fields. Her ability to ask insightful questions, challenge assumptions, and offer guidance beyond subject-specific boundaries made a real difference to my development. I appreciated her openness, patience, and genuine willingness to engage with unfamiliar content, demonstrating exceptional mentoring skills. Our conversations often helped me clarify my ideas, approach problems from new angles, and improve how I communicate complex concepts. I am truly grateful to Eleonore for her encouragement, her time, and the respect she showed throughout this journey. It has been an inspiring and meaningful mentoring experience. We agreed to keep in touch in future.

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Rachael was relatable, supportive, and listened well as well as supported me by asking questions of me that helped open up my line of thinking. In a way, what she did was help me help myself by supporting my skillset development without necessarily telling me how to get things done. I also learned more about how academia works in terms of gaining the confidence to be in the environment (deal with imposter syndrome) because we were in different disciplines, which opened up my worldview about how to set up goals for myself and think about my work in a new way -- we are in quite different disciplines (mine is more creative and less technical and she comes from the sciences) and that was really, really useful, as I think in my particular discipline it's harder to get that kind of perspective from peers/supervisors -- learning a bit about that helped me think and set goals more efficiently because I could see how the skillset is transferable and therefore that means it's something that can be learned and developed rather than based on the idea of writing being "innate" or based on "talent." Also, Rachael just seemed to show genuine interest and was really flexible with me!

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When it all first started, I was quite stressed about the meeting, because my meeting with my supervisor had always been intense. But the meeting with Madeleine is really chill. She really listens, really! It is chill but still keep the progress going. It is most often not just about my thesis but all aspects and problems I have in my final year of PhD. The few weeks were not very thesis-focused because my thesis due to be submitted in December 2025, and by the time programme start, I was not in a fully writing mode (and also being very lost for the whole thesis process). After these weeks, I have a better idea of the process and also learned those subtle but important details that can help me go smooth through my journey. But more than that, I think Madeleine was not just helping in thesis, but more in general, as a friend, and yes, as a mentor, really listening to me, being sympathetic, creating a comfort environment that was not judgy and made me wanted to keep talking. The hour meeting always went very fast!
So yeah, a big shout out to Madeleine!

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Working with Linda as my mentor has been an invaluable experience. Her empathetic and approachable nature created a safe space for open and honest discussions about my thesis journey. Linda’s ability to listen deeply and tailor her advice to my specific challenges has made a real difference. Her structured approach to problem-solving helped me break down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, which was critical during stressful periods.

Linda’s encouragement and practical strategies have significantly boosted my confidence and motivation. She also provided insight into effective time management and stress reduction techniques, which have had a lasting impact on my productivity and wellbeing. Her commitment to my growth and her genuine interest in my progress made me feel supported and understood. This partnership has been transformative, giving me both the tools and the confidence to navigate the challenges of thesis writing with a more positive outlook.

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The process has instilled a sense of confidence in me and has made the initially daunting prospect feel far more manageable. My mentor has helped me with a very practical plan, and explained to me how best to approach the particular challenges that might arise while I write.

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The mentoring built different views on me when I was just thinking about writing the thesis but the mentoring sessions with my mentor offered beyond of that. I crafted my goals on thesis and skills upon PhD completion in the future. It build the insights about determining skills needed to survive in PhD and after PhD.

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My mentor was quite accommodating. Even though we had very little in common she gave her best to guide and comfort me.

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I signed up to the mentorship scheme at a point in my PhD where I felt like I was lacking structure. My mentor was always honest, knew when to challenge the routines I had set for myself and the bad habits I had developed, and was always ready with good, actionable advice.

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Philip was an excellent mentor. He was encouraging, positive and thoughtful. When I began this process I felt a bit lost with my thesis direction and I was not confident about my writing skills. I have come out of it with confidence and a real plan moving forward. Philip listened to all my concerns and offered support and guidance without directing me as to what I should do or making me feel like there was a right or wrong answer. I always left our meetings feeling encouraged and with ideas about my work. I would recommend thesis mentoring to everyone, and cannot thank Philip enough for the support.

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Being mentored by Dr. Matthew Swayne has been an incredibly meaningful and transformative experience for me. His support, encouragement, and practical advice have made such a difference in my thesis-writing journey. From helping me set realistic goals to suggesting new work environments that boosted my focus, his insights were always thoughtful and tailored to my needs. He never made the challenges feel overwhelming but instead broke them down into manageable steps, making the process far less daunting.
What stood out the most was his approachable and empathetic nature. I always felt heard and understood, which made it easy to share my struggles and progress openly. His belief in my abilities gave me the confidence to tackle my thesis with clarity and purpose. This mentorship has not only strengthened my academic skills but also shown me the value of kindness and genuine care in a mentor. I’m truly grateful for his guidance.

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Before I began mentoring, I struggled with demotivation in many aspects of my life, particularly during low moments. However, my mentor played a pivotal role in reigniting my motivation, especially when it came to writing. She shared invaluable tips and strategies that greatly enhanced my approach. Additionally, her insights and guidance were incredibly helpful in preparing for my conference, providing me with the confidence and clarity I needed.

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This mentoring partnership has been invaluable in giving me space to think through and plan my thesis-writing as a process, without the additional focus on the content that my supervisors also bring. Joana was fantastic as a mentor, taking the time to actively listen and making notes so that each meeting I was held accountable for the plan we had made the previous meeting; however, this accountability never came across in a judgemental way, and Joana was really encouraging in highlighting areas where I had achieved something. This combination of active listening and non-judgemental accountability made Joana an ideal mentor.

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This mentoring partnership has been invaluable in maintaining my focus and motivation as my research group has disbanded. Liv is very considerate and thoughtful and worked with me to find solutions to problems ranging from organising my thesis plan and approaches to writing to communication and trying to find funding sources. She's an excellent listener and very skilfully drew on her own knowledge and experience when relevant in a way that aided us to find solutions that may work for me. Our sessions flew by with a lot of ground covered even when initially it felt like there may be little to discuss. She invested her time and was fully available and engaged, ensuring that my mentoring needs were met as we progressed through our block. I feel much better resourced to continue with my thesis writing now and  have a much better understanding of how I work and how best to improve my productivity,  which is something I may not have dedicated my time to had it not been for these sessions and hope to keep in touch. Thanks Liv!

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Joe was a real support at the beginning of my PhD journey and has given me the confidence and motivation to take forward my thesis writing.

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My mentor, Dr. Souleymane Yameogo, has been incredibly supportive. He shared his experiences of learning languages from 0 to 1 through multimodal resources such as videos and audiobooks. His insights on visualising the language inspired me to think critically about the rationale, the purpose and the goals of my own research.

Dr. Yameogo also challenged my assumptions by describing how he connected with lecturers and academic staff beyond his supervisors, and how he invites people for a coffee chat to ask for help on research. This broadened my perspective on networking within academia and motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and reach out to individuals who might contribute to my project.

Moreover, he provided detailed and thoughtful feedback on my research design. Drawing on his multilingual and multicultural background, he acted as a participant of my mock-interview and offered so much invaluable advice to refine my interview questions.

Once again, Dr. Souleymane Yameogo, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such an exceptional mentor! I am grateful for the guidance you provide. Wish you all the best in your Postdoc journey.

I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Souleymane Yameogo for recognition in the Mentorship Hall of Fame.

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Cicely was excellent. She is a great listener and showed lots of empathy. She allowed me to determine what I wanted from the program (which was accountability). Knowing that I was meeting Cicely each Tuesday to report on the week's progress prevented me from letting it slide as it could easily have done. She was never judgmental and totally understanding of my situation. But rather dwell on the difficulties helped to see beyond them so that they could be overcome. I found Cicely support invaluable this semester. Thank you!

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Amanda is a very kind and patient mentor.

She always helps me in a well-organized way, preparing specific themes for each meeting, such as writing, finding academic conferences, and offering support for both my academic work and personal life. Her ability to anticipate and respond to my concerns shows not only her professionalism but also her genuine care for my growth and well-being. Compared to my previously isolated PhD journey, I have now received much more encouragement and support. She makes me feel like there is someone I can rely on. Her deep humanity and patience mean a lot to me, and I am truly grateful for her guidance.

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This mentoring partnership has been a great learning experience for me. Carla has been an amazing mentor, always supportive and approachable. She has shared her knowledge and experiences in a way that is easy to understand and apply.

Carla’s productive work habits have inspired me to manage my time better and stay focused on my goals. She has shown me how to break tasks into smaller steps and finish them efficiently. Her approach to balancing work and personal life has been a great example for me to follow.

Carla has also shared valuable tips from her own experiences, which have helped me overcome challenges in my studies and career planning. Her practical advice on communication and teamwork has made a real difference in how I approach problems.

We have even talked about collaborating in the future, which is exciting and motivating. I’m grateful for Carla’s guidance, which has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

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My mentoring partnership with Neil Findlay has been truly transformative. Neil has an exceptional ability to listen attentively, ensuring I feel heard and understood. His thoughtful advice has consistently helped me navigate challenges with clarity and confidence. He has a remarkable knack for breaking down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, which has made a significant difference in how I approach my goals.

Beyond his practical guidance, Neil's genuine care and kindness have stood out. He doesn’t just offer support; he invests in building a connection that goes beyond the mentorship itself.

Neil’s approachable and supportive nature, combined with his skillful advice, has made a lasting impact on me. I’m deeply grateful for his mentorship and for the positive perspective he brings to every conversation.

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Tara is a very good mentor to me because she can put her feet in my shoes. She understands my situation without me trying hard to tell her. Tara was there to give me a logical explanation that made me feel better and more confident. Tara also shared her experience and how she managed the challenges. I can say that I am improving and even after the programme, I am still maintaining my writing and remembering all the tips that Tara gave me. It gives me less stress and try to enjoy riding the waves instead of against the waves. Thank you, Tara.

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My mentoring experience with Rhona was very valuable. From the beginning, she was always friendly, easy to approach, and made me feel comfortable and supported. We discussed short and mid-term goals for the mentoring period, which helped me keep on track with things. She often shared personal examples of how I could develop my own writing style and, shared related work samples for references. I wish to sincerely appreciate her constructive feedback and warm approach towards me.

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Jana was a fantastic mentor, who was enthusiastic and keen to meet regularly, encouraging me along the way to work in small sections and send them to my supervisors. She provided advice on working through any periods of problematic communication with my supervisor and was a great support to me during a challenging period of my thesis writing.

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My mentor was quite passionate in providing assistance/support. Despite her busy schedule, she used to arrange a regular meeting and was really prompt in checking my progress. I joined this mentoring program for the sake of my mental well-being. Prior to joining the program I was in a state of being doomed and overwhelmed.

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Rachel was an excellent mentor who was very encouraging and offered a lot of insights into ways of organising my thesis and how to approach the writing in order to make consistent progress. She helped me see my research through the lens of related disciplines and helped me prioritise what to write and where it might fit in the text. It was also really helpful to have someone to speak with who could demystify the various stages of a PhD that wasn't my direct supervisor.

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My mentor provided great assistance with my thesis schedule, helping me manage deadlines effectively. He offered detailed guidance on writing and structuring my thesis, which improved the overall quality of my work. His patience and careful listening made me feel supported throughout the process, and his practical, actionable advice was instrumental in solving the issues. This support not only enhanced my academic performance but also built my confidence in handling complex tasks. I’m deeply grateful for his dedicated involvement and the positive impact it has had on my thesis and personal growth.

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Robert Richardson (Thesis Mentor) and Monica Reves (JMS Programme Mentor)

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Robert Richardson (Thesis Mentor) and Monica Reves (JMS Programme Mentor)

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"It is with great honor and profound respect that I nominate Monica and Robert for the Hall of Fame. Over the course of our relationship, Monica and Robert has demonstrated unparalleled dedication, exceptional expertise, and an unwavering commitment to fostering growth and excellence in me.

From the very beginning, Monica and Robert stood out as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration. Their ability to convey complex concepts with clarity and patience has not only enriched my understanding but has also profoundly influenced my approach to both personal and professional challenges. They possess an innate ability to identify potential and cultivate it, they guided me towards achieving my fullest potential.

What truly sets Monica and Robert apart is their exceptional character. They lead by example, consistently demonstrating integrity, humility, and a genuine passion for the field. Monica and Robert are not just a mentor in the traditional sense but role models who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.

Monica was able to build a quick and passionate relationship with me. One of her exceptional performance during the program was when she travelled all the way from Manchester for the JMS conference which relaxed my anxiety during my presentation. This was amazing and it gave me a sense of belonging and hope to complete my thesis with the right support.

They both willing to continue the relationship"

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From the first 5 minutes of meeting Katie, I immediately knew that we have been matched perfectly. Katie offered me a safe space to share my thoughts and anxiety surrounding the thesis writing process. She met all my worries with kindness, support and understanding. Katie helped me identify things that motivate me to write and things that do not. She also helped me navigate how and when I worked best and she encouraged me to set up a healthy writing habit while prioritising my mental wellbeing. I am glad that I signed up for the Thesis Mentoring Programme and I am lucky to have been paired with Katie!

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The mentoring partnership means a lot to me, especially it helps me relieve my anxiety on writing and doing fieldwork. Laura is a very thoughtful and talented friend. The way in which she asked questions and the strategies and solutions she provided all encouraged me to continue to do research and write up my ideas despite many difficulties during the fieldwork. I think Laura is very good at asking questions and getting you to reflect and recognise your own issues. I am very grateful that I could have chance to know and talk with Laura about my research, especially during the difficult times of doing fieldwork alone and writing up thesis.

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Throughout the mentorship programme, I had the privilege of being guided by an exceptional mentor. Her expertise in task prioritization was instrumental in streamlining my workflow, thereby enhancing my productivity. She provided a comprehensive plan for my thesis writing, which served as a robust framework for my research.

Her innovative strategies for stress management transformed my approach towards task completion, making it more efficient and less daunting. Her unwavering support and encouragement served as a constant source of motivation.

Her mentorship was not confined to academics but extended to personal growth. I am profoundly grateful for her guidance, which has been pivotal in my journey. Her mentorship is a testament to her professional excellence and her remarkable character.

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My mentor is empathetic, kind, professional, and experienced in both academic and non-academic sectors. She is an expert in my field of interest. We both specialize in feminist/gender-related topics in post-socialist countries. Personally and politically, I feel a strong connection. She has significantly eased my final thesis stage, helped me gain better self-knowledge, and given me the courage to pursue post-PhD interests.

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The mentoring partnership has been incredibly meaningful, greatly enhancing my academic and personal development. Rita is an outstanding mentor, and I genuinely enjoy our meetings and conversations. Her empathetic listening and deep understanding of my challenges have provided invaluable support. As an exceptional researcher, Rita generously shares her insights and experiences, which have significantly impacted my progress. She has shown me how to break down complex tasks into manageable steps, keeping me motivated and focused. Her tailored advice on writing and maintaining a productive life, specifically addressing my concerns and needs, has been transformative. This partnership has not only honed my research and writing skills but also enriched my overall experience as a PGR, making me feel supported and empowered to reach my ultimate goals.

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Carla was a thoughtful, understanding, and flexible mentor, who allowed me to openly share my struggles and progress with thesis writing.

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Madeleine has truly been an exceptional mentor, providing me with a warm welcome and demonstrating genuine interest in both my thesis and my overall well-being. Our discussions spanned supervisory dynamics, writing patterns, and the challenges that would arise post-thesis submission. She consistently offered care, valuable information, and additional resources when needed. I greatly benefited from her insights in problem-solving and navigating the intricacies of the University of Glasgow, which helped me gain confidence in the final stages of my academic journey. I cannot emphasise enough how grateful I am.

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The first time I met Michalis, I was late, but he didn't show any negativity. Instead, he gave me further options. When I met him again, he told me not to be nervous and reassured me that it was okay. At that moment, I knew he would be a good Mentor. We met almost every week, and I would prepare my questions, which he would patiently answer based on his experience. His answers were always unreserved, providing me with the information I needed most straight away, which saved me a lot of trial and error. He also gave me advice based on my performance over certain periods, allowing me to reflect on my efforts and understand where I stood. After each meeting, I felt more confident in my writing. Michalis definitely deserves to be recognized in the Mentorship Hall of Fame!

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My mentor was very patient, kind, compassionate and supportive. She eased my anxiety and offered valuable tips and recommendations to help with my writing, research practice and my relationship with my supervisory team. I liked that we are both immigrants and bilingual which curated a level of understanding and solidarity. I'm extremely thankful to my mentor for being reliable and trustworthy and overall very generous in spirit and held the space with care and a sense of safety.

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I want to thank Louise for sharing her experience and reading and writing habits, for encouraging me, and for keeping me accountable for completing the writing goal I set for myself during our mentoring.

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Anisha was so amazing as a mentor and as a person! I liked how she effortlessly transfers her positivity to me during my "low" writing moments. I don't tell her but she can somehow feel it, and surprisingly says the right words always at the right time! I also like how she balances the mentoring process, between being an actual mentor and a friend, not overdoing one or the other. She really has made my writing experience very positive - and I wanted keep this outlook until I finally submit!

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Kevin has been incredibly supportive as a mentor, trying to understand where I was coming from and working towards constructive solutions. He offered help wherever he could, both with a view to my writing and with a view to thinking about life after the PhD. Thank you!

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The mentor is always the first person I want to turn to for help at some key stages of my PhD. In the autumn semester, I felt uncomfortable with my research topic and wanted to change it. Then my mentor told me her stories of managing academic pressure and interacting with her PhD supervisors. Then in May when I was too nervous about my annual progress review, I went to ask for her help again. She thought of any questions that might be asked, pointed to the errors in my thesis and mocked the review process with me. This made me feel so much relieved.

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Undertaking mentoring with Stuart was always a highlight of the day and has really helped me on many levels. I think that throughout the process, I felt validated in my efforts to improve writing, give structure to ideas and see the thesis as something I can actually achieve to write. Stuart was very good at offering a listening ear and helping to formulate me my thoughts both at the level of smaller editing and overall planning of the overall goal which we set at the beginning. He was also very good at pointing me to other resources that could help me and showed great emotional intelligence and understanding when linking up loose thoughts that I would at times throw at him.
Overall, I believe my thesis is closer to completion thanks to the partnership and I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who was struggling with the problems I was at the start.

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I felt that Aurelien was a super mentor as he assured me that the problems l was facing were the common problems faced by students at this stage Also, l felt he had faced the problems personally and therefore was able to present ideas for overcoming obstacles.
It has made a real difference to me as l am now very confident that l will finish my thesis in time and feel proud of the work that l have published.

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Grace is excellent at guiding people through their confusion with simple and thoughtful questions. She could deeply show both her profession and her passion for listening and caring. I sincerely appreciate having her as my mentor. Anyone who may have her as a mentor later will be impressed. Thank you, Grace! You are amazing!

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Before the programme ended, I had a troubling time in my personal life and had to end the meetings earlier because I took a break from my studies. I can say the most helpful meeting was that last one. Marissa helped me to accept that it is ok to feel how I do, how much pressure I am dealing with and that my life is not an obstacle to my work. I felt relieved and seen after the meeting.

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She is amazing, and very helpful. She helped me to work out finding the best way that can keep me writing. Also, overcome the fear of not being 'perfect'.

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Jane is an experienced listener, she brings realism and compassion to this mentoring relationship

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Fernanda was the best thesis mentor that I could have asked for. She was encouraging, insightful and generous with her time. Fernanda shared her own experience which was really valuable. She also listened and helped me understand the ways I work best. Fernanda not only met with me but also suggested that I email updates to help with accountability in meeting writing targets. Equally importantly, Fernanda helped me focus on my health and wellbeing. I met my draft thesis deadline and got great feedback from my supervisors. Fernanda played a huge role in that!

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Brianna was great and I feel like we got along. She shared experience particularly in the area of time and project management and writing skills. We had good conversations about relationship with supervisor, managing supervisors, and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, as I work on a collaborative doctoral award. Overall, I had a good experience and thought she was supportive and understanding. I think she was great and a had a good approach to a mentee.

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Emily helped me to gain immense confidence in my writing, and encouraged me so well throughout our time together. No longer do I have a negative relationship with my writing, but I actually enjoy it and see it as an enjoyable and challenging thing that will get finished. Her joy and support in a semi casual but professional setting allowed me to have further support beyond my supervisor that was so extremely helpful, I am so grateful for our time together. Emily is the absolute best!

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Its been immeasurably helpful to talk to Ankita, we had very relaxed conversations which removed the fear around writing, talked tips and tricks and I feel like I'm approaching it from a new perspective.

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Jana was very kind and said to reach out to her if I had any questions even after the program ends.

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Andrew has patiently listened to all my insecurities related to the quality of my work, if I will ever finish and if my progress was good enough, and always reassured me that I have nothing to worry about and that feelings like this are normal. He also assisted me in preparing for my first-ever job interview which landed me my post-PhD position, which I am super grateful for!

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Fernanda has been such a brilliant mentor. She has been supportive and encouraging. Her practical advice about writing the thesis and looking after myself has been invaluable. Fernanda has also been generous in sharing her experiences as well as her time. I have learned a lot and am very grateful.

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Anna was always very positive with me. Even if things felt challenging in the context of difficult feedback, for example, I could become quite self-critical of my writing. Anna would consistently offer me a positive or practical based perspective, e.g., how do we solve this problem, and couch it in the principles of the scientific method, rather than me focusing on my writing as being an 'undergraduate' and going in endless circles worrying about this. She helped me to depersonalize feedback in essence, which was a key concept for me to base my feedback and progress on, rather than personalising feedback. I also learned how to better manage adversarial interactions and how to negotiate better on this basis. Anna was also very kind and understanding about my difficulties, and she also offered me a space to reflect on the pandemic and how it had impacted my research and academic relationships. It also gave me the confidence to conduct challenging conversations appropriately. I would highly recommend thesis mentoring to others. Particularly to those that have had their research/PhDs impacted by the pandemic, I would recommend. And of course, to anyone struggling generally... As... I... am finally ready to submit!

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The mentoring partnership has been transformative for me, significantly reshaping my PhD journey. Heather's empathy and approachability created a supportive environment from the outset. Her patient listening and willingness to share personal experiences from her own PhD enriched our discussions. Heather's mentorship proved invaluable, offering insights that extended beyond the academic realm. The connection with her has not only positively impacted my research but also fostered personal growth. I am grateful for the guidance received and the genuine camaraderie that defines our mentor-mentee relationship. Heather's qualities of empathy, openness, and shared experiences have made a profound difference.

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James is an excellent mentor - he helped me navigate through my thoughts. His way of mentoring and asking questions sort of make me think clearly and understand my situation. At first, I thought I won't get used to his asking but his way of asking questions made me feel less intimidated of being asked. He provides his own experience that alleviates the feeling of insecurity, moreover, validates that there are really things beyond our control. It really made a difference on my thought process.

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Although we were from completely different subjects, Dr Diego has helped me during my writing process, shared from his experiences, and gave great recommendations through out the program. His recommendations made things simpler and clearer for me, especially while dealing with multifaceted discussions and structuring chapters. It was great meeting him and I wish him all the best!

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Neil has a rare and fantastic way of combining compassion, kindness, humour, and empathy with insightful and gentle advice. I was really nervous of discussing my work with people and Neil talked through it with a supportive lens and provided encouraging feedback in a way that meant a lot to me! Thanks Neil!

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I would like to take this opportunity to show my gratitude to my mentor, Jessica. She is very nice and professional. Although our fields are totally different, she gave me lots of advice on writing skills, thesis planning, time management, and even career. She support me on the side of mine. I just felt confident, and stress relaxed after meeting her. I had a good idea of how to write my thesis. I wish her all the best.