{"id":1225,"date":"2026-01-21T12:35:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/stories\/?p=1225"},"modified":"2026-01-21T13:29:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:29:34","slug":"jennell-coria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/stories\/jennell-coria\/","title":{"rendered":"KU mentoring profile: Jennell Coria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Throughout National Mentoring Month in January, KU Alumni is spotlighting the strength of the Jayhawk professional network and the mutual rewards of mentorship through profiles of some of the Jayhawks who\u2019ve joined <a href=\"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/jayhawk-career-network\/ku_mentoring\/\">KU Mentoring+<\/a>, the University\u2019s platform for mentoring, networking and community building.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Below, meet KU student Jennell Coria, a senior studying marketing who connected with a mentor through KU Mentoring+.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/jayhawk-career-network\/ku_mentoring\/\">KU Mentoring+<\/a> to join the more than 16,000 alumni, students, faculty and staff on the platform and support fellow Jayhawks through career advice and connections.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does mentorship look like to you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Coria: To me, mentorship looks like genuine support, open communication and guidance without judgment. It means having someone who helps you grow by sharing their experiences, asking thoughtful questions and encouraging you to see your potential, even when you may not fully see it yet. At its core, mentorship is a two-way relationship built on trust, learning and personal development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What has been a surprise to you in your experience as a mentee?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What has surprised me most has been the unconditional support my mentor has shown. Whether it was helping me prepare for interviews or simply checking in to make sure I had what I needed, their steady encouragement has meant so much. As a college student balancing financial and personal challenges, having someone consistently show up for me has been incredibly meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the best advice you\u2019ve received from your mentor?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>My mentor once told me, \u2018You don\u2019t have to have everything figured out right now. Just take the next best step.\u2019 That advice really stuck with me. I\u2019m a first-generation student, so I often feel pressure to have a perfect plan, and hearing that gave me permission to grow, explore and be patient with myself while still staying intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What has being a mentee taught you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a mentee has reminded me that growth doesn\u2019t happen alone. As a first-generation Latina, I have learned how powerful representation truly is\u2014having a mentor who understands my background, challenges and aspirations has made a difference in how supported and confident I feel. Mentorship has taught me the importance of asking for help, seeking guidance and surrounding myself with people who genuinely want to see me succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You\u2019ve attended KU\u2019s Mocktails &amp; Mingle networking events at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. What made you want to participate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I was looking for a low-pressure way to build my professional confidence and practice networking in a supportive environment. <a href=\"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/jayhawk-career-network\/mocktails-mingle\/\">Mocktails &amp; Mingle<\/a> felt like a great opportunity to learn how to connect with professionals without the intimidation of a formal setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What was the most helpful part of the events?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most helpful parts was the pre-networking guidance that was provided to attendees before the actual networking began. We were given tips on how to properly network, be an active listener and pick up on social cues, like how to smoothly join conversations and when to respectfully step away. That preparation made the experience feel much more comfortable and intentional, and it really boosted my confidence going into the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s something you learned that you think other students would benefit from?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I learned that it\u2019s OK to be yourself and ask thoughtful questions. You don\u2019t need to have everything figured out\u2014being curious, prepared and confident goes a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why would you recommend Mocktails &amp; Mingle events to fellow students?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I would encourage other students to attend because it\u2019s a welcoming space to grow professionally, practice communication skills and make meaningful connections. It\u2019s a great confidence-builder and an easy way to step outside your comfort zone in a supportive setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Photo courtesy of Jennell Coria<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cHaving a mentor who understands my background, challenges and aspirations has made a difference in how supported and confident I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":1216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,15],"tags":[81],"class_list":["post-1225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jayhawks","category-students","tag-mentoring"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>KU mentoring profile: Jennell Coria - Crimson &amp; 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