My Life: Laurena Duggan 17, Northern Ireland

I help younger pupils in school. The reason I wanted to be a mentor was that when I was younger I had a mentor who really helped me. I was in counselling and needed a lot of support but it was my mentor who made the difference. I liked that she gave me options, made me feel important and helped me challenge myself. I wanted to do that for other people.

Everything about mentoring is rewarding, just helping someone with a problem they thought they couldn't fix, making someone smile and being there for them. It has made me realise I am a confident, caring person and I have learned a lot about how to handle difficult situations. I now try to help everybody, even people I don't always like. I have learned that when you are open and honest with people they respect you for it. I've achieved a lot as a mentor, from helping two cousins to rebuild their relationship to helping younger pupils fit in.