Stepping into the role of a mentor can be both exciting and uncertain, but for Jo, becoming a volunteer coach with the Harding Miller Education Foundation has been a deeply rewarding six-year journey of connection, growth, and shared courage. Drawing on her own experiences of navigating life after school without a clear roadmap, Jo has dedicated herself to supporting young women through some of their most formative years. In this blog, she reflects on what inspired her to volunteer, the joys and challenges of mentoring, and the profound impact that steady guidance – and patience – can have on a scholar’s confidence and future path.
Enjoy reading her interview!
How long have you been a coach for Harding Miller – when did you join?
“I joined Harding Miller in 2019 and have been a coach for six years”.
Why did you become a volunteer coach in the first place?
“When I finished Year 12, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do at university. My parents were very supportive but neither of them went to university, and I didn’t feel like I got a lot of direction from my school. So, it was a time that I felt quite lost. I ended up finding what I wanted to do and going to university and have had a successful career. My reason for joining HMEF as a volunteer coach was to be a supportive person for young women in their final years of high school to help support them through that time and through their higher education and career decisions”.
How did you hear about the scholarship?
“I was looking for this kind of volunteer opportunity and saw it promoted through the organisation, Women on Boards”.
What have you enjoyed about being a coach?
“I’ve enjoyed seeing how my relationships with the girls evolve across years 9 to 12, and seeing their confidence grow. Like any relationship, it takes time and effort to build trust and rapport, and it’s great to build that over time and see the girls become more confident in their choices as they progress through school”.
What have you found most interesting about being a coach?
“I’ve been interested to see how some of my scholars have navigated their family’s expectations of what they should study at university and do for a career. Seeing the enormous courage, it can take for the girls to decide for themselves what it is they’d like to do, which may not always align with what their parents want them to do, has been very inspiring”.
What have been your biggest challenges? What strategies did you employ to overcome them?
“Sometimes it can be difficult to get in touch with scholars. If a lot of time starts to pass without being able to make contact, I’ve found it useful to contact Harding Miller and seek their advice on what to do. Sometimes it may be necessary to contact the school, which Harding Miller can take the lead on”.
How many scholars have you coached over the years?
“I’ve coached six scholars and am about to coach two more”.
What advice would you give to incoming new coaches?
“You may not feel like you’re making a big difference in the girls’ lives at first but stick with it! It takes time to build the relationship with them – they will become more comfortable over time and your relationship will grow and change”.
Thank you Jo, and all of our other wonderful coaches who continue to give their time, patience, and wisdom to guide our scholars with courage and compassion.
