Got a university mentor, not sure what to use them for?

[lizzy171002]

Hey,

I just started University again in September after several false starts. This time, they've given me a 'mentor' for the first semester, though I only met them this Monday. The people who arranged it said that most 'aspies' were really happy with having a mentor, but I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to do with them.
They aren't allowed to help me with classwork, not that I need help with that, and they have no experience with anyone on the Autism Spectrum. In fact, they asked me to bring them some information for our next meeting to educate them, which seems like asking a lot, given that I have a full schedule, and a project I need to complete this month.
I'm already stressed out and exhausted all the time because my university insists that everything has to be completed in groups, how am I supposed to educate this person on ASD as well as what I need help with?
I'm half-way to just firing them and trying to go it alone, even when I know that isn't a good idea for me. I recognize that I need help, but this feels more like I'm helping them by educating one of theirs, while not really getting any help in return.

Any suggestion? Should I just power through and educate them?

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

It's unfortunate that your mentor does not have experience with people on the spectrum, and it seems a little unreasonable to expect you to educate them, surely they should do their own research in order to do their job well? Unfortunately I don't have any advise.

As for what mentors can help with: time keeping, maintaining a social life, anxiety and stress management, possibly extensions if you need them (that depends on the uni I guess), if you are struggling with group work you could discuss that with them and see if they have any advice. Really, they should help you with whatever you need help with, on the mental health and coping with uni life side of things, even if it is just as a supportive and familiar person to check in with if your feeling down.

I have also just been assigned a mentor for the first time, and met them on Tuesday. Fortunately she has a lot of experience mentoring aspies.I wasn't really sure about it, as I have already got through 4 years of uni without support, and I get nervous about meeting new people. I spent my first meeting getting to know her, and then she helped me work through some anxiety about a presentation I will be doing next week, and will be meeting her after to discuss how it all went. It was helpful.

I hope things work out for you.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Give him a list of links to books and stuff he can read up then tell him to come talk to you when he's done his assigned reading. It is a university, nobody is exempt from doing their homework!

I have no experience with campus counselors. I was assigned to a kind of one when I went to ITT Tech, but other than being fun to talk to, I really don't remember what useful purpose she served... I think she was supposed to be the go-between with schedule conflicts?