Joshya Singh is a third-year student pursuing a specialist in Pathobiology (LMP), a major in Physiology, and a minor in Bioethics. She is the Co-Coodinator of the St. Mike’s Mentorship Program, a part of the Research Opportunities Program, and has been a mentor and a leader in the Orientation team in the past.
Andrea Taylor is a fourth-year student specializing in Health and Disease and minoring in Physiology and Immunology. She serves as Co-Coordinator of the St. Mike’s Mentorship Program, Copy Editor of The Mike Newspaper, and as Secretary for the U of T Mental Health Association, which is a program focused on promoting awareness on mental wellbeing.
Going Strong, Together: The St. Mike’s Mentorship Program
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” — Steven Spielberg
Mentorship is synonymous with support and togetherness. It’s a human endeavour through which a mentor provides direction and advice, shares their foresight, and is willing to advocate for their mentee’s dreams and aspirations. It’s a relationship that shares mutual trust, understanding, and respect. It’s a space where both individuals can express what they know—and also the things they don’t. Most importantly, it’s a promise that a mentor makes to their mentee—to provide not a quick-fix to all problems but to be there while the mentee learns and grows capable of discovering solutions themselves.
This philosophy has been the very inspiration that laid the foundation of the St. Mike’s Mentorship Program. This year, our team consists of two coordinators, eight senior mentors, and 43 mentors—with every individual committed to be there for all 233 mentees in the Program.
Each mentor is responsible for communicating with five to six mentees, either through weekly correspondence, monthly meetings, or simply when their mentee has questions. Our team of mentors take pride in their mentees’ hard work and achievements which have brought them to the University of Toronto and to St. Mike’s. They are also prepared to support them in their journeys ahead. Mentors have been equipped with invaluable skill sets learnt through a 7-week period of comprehensive training. During this time, Mentors have been instructed on topics relating to precise resource provision, confidentiality, boundaries, effective communication strategies, mental health, principles of equity, netiquette, and accessibility.
They are also supported in their pursuit by our wonderful senior mentors, who not only supervise their own team of mentors but also work collaboratively on five important portfolios, including Event Management, Professional Development, Mentor-Mentee Relations, Media Promotions, and Team Development.
The St. Mike’s Mentorship team is not only committed toward providing guidance to its mentees but also aims to conduct a series of workshops and events to enable professional, academic, social, and personal growth. Our upcoming Professional Development workshops are focused on accessing university-sanctioned resources; we aim to host guest speakers from a variety of departments and specialities, such as: mental health counselling, academic success, health and wellness, and college tutoring services. These workshops are designed to provide first-years with a toolkit of academic and professional skills essential for success at university. They are intended to educate students of diverse career paths, internship and research opportunities while also connecting them to the staff and alumni network here at St. Mike’s. In addition, they will go into detail on how to navigate platforms such as the Career Learning Network and the technical aspects of applying to various Programs of Study.
Our Professional Development workshops are beautifully complemented with numerous spirited events meant for social interaction, personal well-being, and advocacy. Our team hopes to come together and celebrate the student body at our college, whether it’s through a culture festival at St. Mike’s, a mindfulness and yoga session, or an outdoor movie night. We also hope to advocate for equity and inclusivity through initiatives such as the Program Thanksgiving food drive, the promotion of innovative start-ups, and tributes to individuals who stood for their rights in society.
Ultimately, we hope to provide a space where students can learn from one another and from the experiences they have as a part of the Program. For our team, this translates to skills like teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and judicious decision-making. For our mentees, this is a great opportunity to reflect and become more self-aware, collaborate with peers, and gain valuable relationships along the way. For us, we hope it continues to be a source of growth in leadership, kindness, and mutual encouragement.
More than anything, the Program’s course so far has given us confidence that our team’s dedication will help mentees discover who they are, and who they want to be in the next four years of their undergraduate experience—ultimately paving way to a wonderful year of mentorship—full of support and togetherness.
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