2015 saw the beginning of the long awaited mentorship program at Innis. After an application and interview process, 3^rd and 4^th year students were matched up with an alumni that shares either a similar career interest, hobby, or path after post-secondary school. I had the opportunity to speak to Lisa Santonato and Jasmine Denike, two mentees from the program who discussed their experiences thus far.

Innis Herald: What industry is your mentor in? Explain that in relation to your interests and desired career path.

 Lisa Santonato: My mentor is Nadia Belokopitov. Nadia is a graduate of Innis College’s Cinema Studies program. She is a filmmaker and lawyer practicing in Vancouver, BC. As a mature student with past experience working in the film industry, I returned to my studies at UofT with the aim of refining my filmmaking practice through a dedicated study of film theory. I am a full-time student in the Cinema Studies and Anthropology programs. My intention is to pursue my Masters while continuing work in the field. My long-term goal is to produce and direct documentaries and long-format, live-action film.

Jasmine Denike: She’s in marketing and public relations, which are directly aligned with my desired career path.

IH: Please describe your relationship with your mentor (if you both live in Toronto, how many times you have met, what you do during your meetings etc).

LS: Nadia and I have hour-long telephone conversations generally about once a week. We also text each other with news, updates or to schedule calls. I have never felt that the distance or time difference between us was in any way limiting. Nadia has always been very generous and committed with her time, and knowing we will meet in person in a few weeks when she travels to Toronto means I have much to look forward to.

JD: We’re both living in Toronto. She’s in the downtown core and I’m minutes away so we find the time and space to meet often. We’ve met approximately 3-4 times in the past 2 months now, which I’m very pleased with. When we meet, we normally have a coffee and maybe some breakfast, as our schedules only allow us to meet during the mornings. We spend between 1 to 3 hours discussing how to make connections, the importance of following one’s path and trying new things, and we’ve discussed some projects I’m working on where I’ve had the opportunity to receive helpful advice.

IH: How has your mentor aided you (Advice, resume, potential internships etc.)?

LS: The advice, support, and encouragement that I have received from Nadia is immeasurable, absolutely unquantifiable. She always has words of wisdom to offer, with good anecdotes from her own personal experience that let me know she can relate to my challenges. Without even having to ask, she is there for me, to offer a listening ear and words of support. It has been a tremendous relief for me to have someone as dedicated as Nadia on my side, especially when times have been tough. As a mature student and working professional, I have often felt isolated and alone in my experience at U of T. My professors, T.A.s and the student body at U of T is of course excellent, and I’ve found great support through the resources available to students, but I had always felt somewhat out of place and isolated in my experience. Before meeting Nadia I had tried to reach out to develop stronger bonds but had not found the right fit anywhere. Under the Innis College Mentorship Program, I have found great relief through the kind of support that can only come from being connected to a working professional who has been in my shoes.

JD: She’s aided me by giving me her story – how she’s managed to reach the point where she is now. She has also helped me with my current status as a student about to graduate and enter the working world. I haven’t asked about potential internships or work positions because I believe that with a mentorship, it’s important to keep job searches separate from learning opportunities such as this one. We’ve mostly spent the time just getting to know one another so when we do encounter something that would require more knowledge, we’re prepared to share it respectfully.

IH: What has been your outlook on the program so far? Has it been a positive experience and what have you taken from your meetings?

LS: My experience has been extremely positive so far. I highly recommend the program to anyone interested. Benjamin Weststrate and everyone involved in the program have demonstrated the utmost thoughtfulness and consideration in supporting students and pairing mentors and mentees together. I think the program has great potential for growth. On the individual level, the results will certainly be far-reaching. It is an outstanding privilege and relief to have a mentor at your back.

JD: Since it’s the inaugural year, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure how dedicated a mentor I would have, nor was I sure how much time they would have to spend with me. Being with my current mentor, I’ve been happily surprised with many meetings where she’s been very dedicated to seeing me and watching my progress. I hope that future Innis students can benefit from this mentorship program for the entire 8 months at UofT next year and I plan on keeping in contact with my mentor well into the future. It’s an amazing opportunity for Innis students and I have taken away nothing but positive feelings and insights.

Thanks to the great success of this year, the mentorship team will be having an extended program next year that begins in October 2015 and will extend until March 2016. Applications for prospective student mentees will open on Wednesday April 1^st 2015. All third and fourth year students of Innis College, the Cinema Studies Institute, Urban Studies, and Writing and Rhetoric Programs are encouraged to apply for this great opportunity that is sure to be a positive experience.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Featured photo courtesy of Innis College