Conversation with alumna gives recent honors grad confidence to pivot

Honors students find mentors in a variety of venues, including classrooms, office hours, advising sessions, and service events. And while the mentors students they find there — professors, peers, staff members, and local leaders — each bring unique value, the most impactful relationships often form between recent and soon-to-be graduates. 

Caroline Steele, currently a J.D. candidate at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, felt the benefit of mentorship as a member of the University Honors Program.

“Incredible faculty shaped my path, particularly as a first-generation law student,” said Steele. “They freely and generously shared their life experience and wisdom in hopes of making my journey a little easier than theirs. It was a blessing.”

Upon graduation with degrees in political science and Spanish and acceptance to Pritzker, Steele felt the call to contribute the same guidance that had been so central to her success.

“One of my life adages is ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,’” said Steele, “so as I started law school, I felt a calling to give back via a mentee.” Steele reached out to the program’s director, Dr. Sarah Crawford-Parker, offering herself as a mentor.

Crawford-Parker saw in Steele a perfect pairing with Jill Parsons, a 2025 KU Honors graduate at a crossroads. Parsons had spent her time at KU preparing for a long-envisioned legal career, participating in the KU’s Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) Program and successfully taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

“I had spent years working toward that goal,” said Parsons, “yet as graduation neared, I began to feel uncertain about whether that path still aligned with who I was becoming.”

She credits Dr. Crawford-Parker's insight and timely support for her recalculated route — a change in direction that began with Steele’s mentorship.

“From our first conversation, Caroline made me feel seen and heard,” said Parsons. “Being just a few years ahead of me, she deeply understood the doubts and transitions I was experiencing. Her guidance provided clarity at a moment when I needed reassurance and an honest perspective.”

Their interactions led Parsons to remain at KU for her graduate studies, but now as a City/County Management Fellow in pursuit of a master’s degree from the School of Public Affairs & Administration, an experience she relays to Steele regularly.

“Today, Caroline and I continue to speak on the phone every few months to catch up, reflect, and support one another,” said Parsons. “I value hearing about her experiences at Northwestern Law School, and I enjoy sharing my own path.”

The relationship ended up being just as beneficial for Steele, who saw in Parsons not just a mentee but a friend. 

“What I didn’t expect about being a mentor is that Jill has taught me a great deal, maybe even more than what I’ve been able to share with her,” said Steele. “Her kind, joyful, curious spirit is rooted in integrity, inspiring me to be true to myself and be present in the last few years of my J.D.,” said Steele.

Experiences like Steele’s and Parsons’ have inspired KU Honors to develop a new alumni mentoring initiative, “Expanding Your Honors Path,” which will foster these crucial relationships for honors students in their final year. Contributions to the program’s unrestricted fund support the design and implementation of “Expanding Your Honors Path” and impactful programs like it.

To donate, join the KU community on April 28 and 29 for One Day One KU, the university’s annual 24-hour giving event, or contact Sheri Hamilton, KU Endowment’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences team lead who oversees honors program development efforts, at shamilton@kuendowment.org or 785-832-7454.