Emily Luellen knew she loved mentoring people since high school, and she had no trouble bringing that passion with her to UF.
The 22-year-old economics senior is a Career and Academic Peer (CAP) mentor for the Warrington College of Business Administration. As a CAP mentor Luellen helps students with mock interviews, finding internships, and perfecting their resumes.
“My job is to help students get through life and get through college,” she said.
Luellen said she knew she wanted to be a CAP mentor her junior year because she’d had her own share of ups and downs during her first two years of college and thought other UF students had more experience than she did.
Luellen said she relates to her mentees because she, too, was stressed and worried about finding an internship.
“I remember I called my mom, and I was crying,” she said. “I just didn’t know what I wanted to do.”
Luellen’s first internship was with Tower Hamlets Business Partnership in London, which is a charity focused on providing education to students in need. She said a lot of her work was similar to being a CAP mentor.
“A lot of students who come in are stressed out,” Luellen said. “Usually my best advice for them is to think about what they’re passionate about, so hopefully they can get an internship that’s aligned with their passions.”
When she interviews students, Luellen said her goal is to find their best qualities and tell them two things they could improve on.
Luellen said although she doesn’t know what the future will hold, someday she would like to go to Africa to work with children.
“I’ve always had this dream of going to an orphanage and providing water or teaching,” she said.