“I feel really empowered” says Gyurhee Kim, FISU Mentee from Korea

Bill Thompson from the United States and Gyurhee – Kelly – Kim from Korea form a successful Mentor-Mentee duo. They meet online often and have built a strong and meaningful relationship that allows them both to grow.

Let’s rewind back a few months. We are in Zagreb, Croatia, in the middle of the . It is early in the morning at the end of August. Luckily the air and the minds are still fresh. It is time for a small group to start their “Mentoring on the Move” activity. Bill Thompson, an enthusiastic American who works as a Field Course Coordinator at the University of Exeter, England, gets everyone to warm up. “Wake up and warm up, he says in a cheerful voice. We are going to have a nice walk around the campus, Mentor and Mentee in pairs and you will chat. And whenever I say so, you’ll need to change topic, let’s go!”

The group divides into small duos who will walk, talk, exchange, confide and more. “I am really excited about this FISU Springboard Mentorship Programme, says Bill Thompson. I love mentoring and to tell you the truth, I still have many mentors myself!” Time for his Mentee, Ghyurhee aka Kelly, who was listening to him with a broad smile to explain to krikyalive.com what this Programme means to her.

–Tell us a bit more about yourself and what sports you like.
-My name is Kelly or Ghyurhee, I am 23, I come from South Korea and I am currently studying physical education at University in Seoul. I met Bill in February and we have been talking ever since. I used to play golf but now I am really into snowboarding, even if I have only just started (laughs).

-When did you first hear about the International University Sports Federation?
I first heard about FISU in the Summer of 2023. I had no idea it existed or provided so many opportunities until I saw some information on my National University Sports Federation (NUSF) website. I decided to go for the FISU Student Ambassador’s Programme and get to know more and luckily I got in!

-You like sports, but also what happens behind the scenes of the events, right?
I am really interested in the organisation of sports events, in the people. I worked for the Gangwon Youth Olympic Games this year and my favourite part was meeting countless new people there, within the organisation but not only. I find it is the same with FISU: the community is so strong and many people are really inspiring for me.

-Your English is impressive, do you have an international background?
No, I don’t, but I spent two years in the United States, which explains how open I have become and my level of English.

-Is FISU what you expected it to be?
-Quite frankly I knew so little about FISU that I had no idea what to expect. At first I took part in the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy, which is the first step to becoming a Student Ambassador. There was so much information coming my way that I didn’t really know what to do. I must admit I was lost with all of these programmes… But then I met people, first online and now finally here in person at the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum and now everything has become clearer and a lot more exciting. FISU is way bigger and way more powerful that I thought.

-You decided to pick the Springboard Mentorship Programme. Why?
-I was willing to work for a lot of organising committees, but I didn’t know how to get it. I needed some help even if I managed to be the deputy manager of a sports department during the Youth Olympic Games this year.

-That’s impressive! How did you manage that?
-I don’t really know (laughs)! I applied and I guess someone really liked me. I was in the sliding sports department (bobsleigh, skeleton, luge…)

Kelly's experience as a deputy sports manager

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-That must have been exciting and stressful at the same time…
-Exactly! I was so full or adrenalin. This was a fantastic opportunity for me. Not only did I learn how everything worked, I also ended up getting a luge referee license!

-You loved it so much that you wanted to do it again and you applied for the Springboard Programme to help you seek new opportunities?
-Yes. I did have some concerns in Gangwon. I had to manage volunteers and take care of many things that were totally new for me. My friend , who is Donna Spethman’s (who has many roles in the university sports world, one of them being the Secretary General of FISU Oceania) Mentee recommended I joined this Programme, as her relationship with her Mentor helps her so much. I listened to her, was paired up with Bill and I was able to turn to him for advice, asking him what I should do in such situations. I am very lucky: I have one of the very best Mentors.

-How did it start?
-We met online and Bill immediately worked on creating a strong bond with me. We chatted about pretty random stuff at first and managed to create a great link. I have always felt comfortable talking to him and in between chats, we stay in touch via messages. He makes sure to ask how I am on a regular basis. He has become a bit of a father figure for me and I know I can confide in him. I also open up about private things and not only professional decisions. I believe it is this first bond that has allowed me to trust him completely.

-So how was it meeting your Mentor for real in Zagreb?
-It was pretty magical! Suddenly I had this real person in front of me and not just a voice and a picture on a screen. We hugged right away. But more than Bill, it was fantastic to meet all the other Student Ambassadors. I feel really empowered.

-The Springboard Mentorship Programme only lasts for a year, but I am sure your Mentor will remain important in your life…
-Of course! I will want to share my future achievements with him. I was talking to people from the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games Summer, wanting to work for promoting this. And when they agreed, I went “running” straight to Bill!

-You say this Programme, that is still pretty new, has helped you a lot. What could they change to make it even better?
-I don’t have this problem, but I have heard that some other Mentees are unsure of what is expected of them. Possibly a to-do list would help, some guidelines, some tips of what the duos could do together. But I still would strongly encourage everyone to join!

Written by Thérèse Courvoisier, pictures courtesy of Gyurhee Kim and Albina Rakhmatullina