After learning he had won September’s Peer Mentor of the Month award, Orientation and Transitions (O&T) mentor Saaim Attar wanted to keep the news “hush-hush” until it was official.

“I couldn’t hold it in for long,” he said, smiling. “Just being nominated is a huge achievement. It’s a full-circle moment for me because I started this to help people and maybe find some help for myself along the way, but these experiences have helped me grow immensely as a person.”

When it was time to share the news, Attar first told his parents, who are a source of inspiration for him. “I admire my father’s leadership and my mother’s compassion; they’ve made me the person I am, and influence the person I’m becoming. They’re so excited for me, and that means so much.”

Wayfinding in winter semester

Because of travel delays, Attar, a marketing major, missed his winter 2024 orientation.

“It was January; it was my first time in snow. I felt lost, cold and alone.”

Things shifted almost immediately when Attar caught up at a business-focused orientation, attended O&T’s Winter Resource Fair, and signed up for a mentor.

“My peer mentor helped me navigate campus life. They made such a difference that I wanted to get involved as a mentor myself.”

After researching and weighing his options, Attar met with experience coordinator Kayla Sanford

Through supportive friendships, Attar found community at TRU.

and felt an inspirational spark and an immediate sense of ease. “We clicked; the interview process went really well, so I’ve been involved with O&T since 2024. I hope to continue doing so.”

Sanford, who nominated Attar, said: “Whether he’s calmly setting out additional chairs or energetically promoting campus tours, Saaim consistently takes initiative to ensure everything is running smoothly.

He’s always aiming to be the best mentor and team member he can be, often being the first to speak up in team meetings, provide feedback, share ideas, and advocate for his peers to ensure a positive student experience.”

Sympathetic student leader

Knowing what it feels like to be “lost, so very lost” on that first day of school, Attar is a compassionate mentor who understands the importance of connection. As a first-year, he made some meaningful friendships, especially with his best pal Joey, whom he met on campus.

Attar, who lives in Residence at Coyote Den, has had the same roommate for three years and has formed a brotherly kind of bond.

“I consider him my elder brother because he’s always there for me. Having those friends in my corner really helped me get through those early days.”

Chain reaction of caretaking

Attar now acts as a big brother to his mentees.

“Not every new student is coming straight from high school. We welcome graduate, transfer and mature students too. They might need help with wayfinding, but generally they already know who they are, what they want and have had more life experience. Everyone has distinct needs, so we meet them where they’re at, wherever that is.”

He notes that some new-to-TRU students might think they’re juggling responsibilities well, but midterms may come as a shock when grades and feedback start rolling in. Part of his role is to help a mentee manage disappointment, shift perspectives, adjust expectations and access supports.

“I’ve sat with mentees through some hard and triumphant times. Even though I’m a trained mentor with professional boundaries, I’m grateful to have these people in my life; to foster these bonds. We often feel more like friends with inside jokes than just a mentor/mentee.”

O&T mentors often engage with campus outreach initiatives on Student Street.

Even when there’s closeness, Attar recognizes you sometimes need to read between the lines. If he senses sadness and a reluctance to speak, he’ll start with informal, friendly chatter.

“We don’t have to have a deep conversation, and you don’t have to share, but hopefully this moment of connection can lighten the weight off their shoulders.”

From mentorship to friendship

The more a mentee participates in programming and interacts with their mentor, the more they gain.

“Mentees often start by asking for guidance and help, and slowly they’ll share little personal anecdotes, or text you with updates instead of questions. They’ll say, ‘This happened today,’ and I love to cheer them on.”

Sometimes Attar notices a mentee with a group of friends, or they’ll walk past him without noticing because they’re cheerfully conversing with a classmate. He considers that growth in independence to be a big win, noting that there are no hard feelings if a mentee drifts away of their own accord.

“It’s quite exciting to see changes, even gradual ones. The key to mentorship is to listen, make recommendations, boost confidence, and help them walk their own path. It’s a very constructive relationship; you’re often their first friend at TRU, which can feel empowering when you’re alone in a different city or country. Not knowing who to trust is very tough.”

The power of peer leadership

Attar has also grown close with many other peer mentors, which has added a joyful dimension to the work.

Attar (left) with the O&T team in Sept. 2025.

As a student’s first introduction to peer leadership is often watching it in action at events or during outreach efforts, witnessing that kind of joyful connectivity can be a powerful attractant and an authentic recruitment tool.

“Originally, I thought I’d keep my head down for four years, graduate, go home and work on my startup. But the more I got involved with this community, the more invested I became.”

Now, having also worked as a social media ambassador with TRU World and Future Students in addition to his O&T role, he recognizes what a missed opportunity it would have been to miss out on student life.

“I wanted to develop my skill set, build my resume and expand my portfolio, but the experiences were so much more formative than that. People started recognizing me from filming on campus, and they’d ask when we were shooting next because they wanted to be part of it.”

Attar (2nd from the left) with Sanford (2nd from the right) and the O&T team at a year-end celebration.

Attar expresses gratitude to his supervisors at TRU World, Future Students and the Office of Student Life. “Their actions have shaped how I care for others, as someone capable of functioning in a society that can be unkind. I want to be a ray of sunshine in dark times.”

He describes Sanford as being someone who: “checks in on me, watches over me and cares about my well-being. She makes it feel like we’re partners, which makes me so happy. Some days I’ll pop by her office to chat and crack jokes.”

“The Student Life office, along with other student support services, helps in many ways, but students know students best,” Sanford said. “Peer-to-peer connection provides support that’s unique from what staff and faculty can provide, and that impact extends beyond first year. Many mentees go on to explore peer leadership and mentorship opportunities because their own mentor inspired them,” Sanford said. “It’s wonderful to see them pay that care and wisdom forward.”

Attar, who strives to embrace discomfort, wants to lead by example. “My advice is not to rush through university. Go to events, meet people, have fun and try to soak everything in because once this moment has passed, you’ve lost it forever.”