In the program, offered by the Central Diversity Office, students receive support with challenges and discover where their strengths lie as young professionals. Would you also like to take advantage of this unique opportunity? More information and the application form can be found on the Meet your Mentor pageExternal link.

What are your expectations? Why did you apply? What about the program appealed to you?

'I was in the third year of my undergraduate degree at the time and was interested in a job in business. I wanted to build my career but wasn't sure where to start. For that reason, I wanted to connect with a professional who would be willing to share his or her expertise with me.'

'Meet your Mentor appealed to me because it specifically targets students of colour who are the first of their families to study at a university. I think it's important to pay extra attention to these students because they often have a harder time accessing opportunities than their peers. I decided to apply because I was curious about the opportunities the program would offer me.'

Does it meet your expectation you had at the beginning? What is it like to meet with your mentor? How do find your contact with your mentor?

'Participating in the program was actually also an experiment for me. Beforehand, of course, I didn't know whether there would be a click between me and my mentor. Soon I noticed that this was great. My mentor's guidance and support rose above all my expectations.'

'Thanks to my mentor, I made a big step in my personal development. My mentor offered me a listening ear, thought of solutions when I ran into something and helped me think ahead about next steps I could take. He helped me move forward by debunking certain beliefs about myself, motivating me to face my fears and celebrating my successes with me.'

What was your biggest challenge/struggle? And what did you learn (about yourself)? 

'My biggest challenge was to dare to show more of myself and stand out from others. I always found business and networking events nerve wrecking because I felt I had to pretend to be different there to impress others. By putting my fear aside and still going to these events, I expanded my network with new contacts from numerous companies. I now have a better idea of what potential future employers are looking for and how to anticipate them.'