Your feedback is very important to the continuous improvement of the Mentorship program, so we are very grateful to the many program participants who have completed the e-feedback form sent on November 11th. If you haven’t sent in your response yet, please take a couple of minutes and respond. You can link to the form at http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/Alumni/Mentorship/Mentor/Feedback/fall04.htm

The Mentoring Group provides a variety of on-line resources at www.mentoringgroup.com.

The National Mentorship Partnership, an organization dedicated to the growth of mentoring, also offers resources at www.mentoring.org.

Pam Asare-Quansah

After a rewarding first year as a mentor, I am happy to be participating again this year as a member of the Mentorship Advisory Committee. I am excited to be involved in the program, as having at one time been a mentee myself, I know how much a mentor’s understanding, knowledge, and experiences can enrich a student’s life. As I am a Human Resources practitioner, I also understand the value of mentorship as it relates to an individual’s professional and personal development, and this program is a wonderful opportunity for me to actively engage in that progress.

I was fortunate last year to assist my mentee by listening to her discuss issues that were relevant in her life, helping with her resume and job search, and referring her to resources to aid in her career development. It was also a beneficial experience for me as I increased my capacity to appreciate differences and embrace diversity, made a meaningful connection to the York community, and gained a valuable friendship.

Like any other successful relationship, mentoring involves active listening, respect for each other, and an open sharing of good and bad experiences. Both partners need to remember that most relationships take time to develop, so don’t be discouraged if your first meeting doesn’t exceed or meet your expectations, but be patient and give the relationship time to evolve.

Jennifer Li

I participated in the mentorship program last year because I was a second year Accounting student who felt lost in life, hoping to find a mentor who could help steer me in the right direction. What I gained was a valuable friendship and a very supportive mentor.

My mentor was there for me for everything, from looking for a job to family troubles. While assisting my academic performance by offering comments on projects and assignments, she also introduced me to her friends and family. I discovered that mentorship is also about informal learning, as I learned more interpersonal and social skills on top of the concrete information about the field of work I want to be in. We have had many good laughs together. It’s always funny to see her reaction when I introduce new and exotic foods to her, such as when she had sushi for the first time. I thought I might have pushed her too far, but in the end it was a good experience, although she told me it would be another push for her to try sushi all over again.

Mentorship is important to me because it is the only connection I have with the real working world. As I do not have a lot of working experience, my mentor has been able to provide me with examples and experiences of her own. It’s a kind of breaking through to the industry before graduation, so that I can be more prepared.

I think that for a relationship to be successful you must be your true self. Only when you are your true self, you will truly know what you need. As a mentor, you will know what you can provide to your mentee. As a mentee, you will know what you need from your mentor. Only when both the mentor and mentee are true to themselves can there be genuine conversation.

Zena Havelock

After a rewarding first year I am pleased to be participating as a mentor again. Having been a student at Atkinson as well as a Masters student at U of T, I understand the value of mentorship as I know it would have been a huge support for me during my university years. I wish to provide that opportunity to Atkinson students as they pursue their academic careers. I believe it is supportive for students to talk with someone who understands because they’ve lived it, and more significantly, survived it. With my student mentee we have discussed and strategized course selections, job difficulties, and time management, among other issues. By reliving some of my experiences I was able to acknowledge my struggles and successes and utilize these experiences to support my mentee. There is always a sense of meaning in helping someone, which is the basis of my career as a social worker.

Mentorship is especially important to me as I believe that we have a responsibility to help those that come after us, giving meaning to our struggles. I think that a successful mentoring relationship recognizes that respect and humour are absolutes. The mentor cannot be patronizing and the mentee must have a sense of being valued.