Pasifika Mentoring
Do you have a mentor, or are you looking for one or are you wondering what is a mentor?
A mentor can be different things to different people, but generally a mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.
Fun fact: the term Mentor actually comes from the character, Mentor, in Homer’s Odyssey. A friend of Odysseus who was placed in charge of his son, Telemachus, when he left for the Trojan war. Mentor provided guidance and advice to Telemachus while his father was away.
Similar to Telemachus, we all require some advice and guidance at different stages of our life. At PPN, we see the importance of providing mentors for pacific island youth as you progress through your studies and navigate both the tertiary world and your entry into the professional one.
During my university days, I relied upon my older brother to help guide me through the process of attending graduate fairs and applying for graduate roles. It can all be somewhat overwhelming, and the competition is fierce so having a friendly guide to traverse the fair and make some introductions was invaluable.
Having benefitted so greatly from mentorship as a student, I made finding good mentors a priority from then on. In my first graduate internship, I had a fabulous manager who helped improve my writing and analysis skills and also helped me prepare for applying and interviewing for my next role once I finished the internship. 14 years later, we are still in touch and have a great working relationship and is now someone who I consider a dear lifelong friend.
As a senior manager in my field of work today, I continue to gain much-needed guidance from more experienced mentors in my industry. However, having progressed to more senior roles, for a number of years I have also been mentoring a range of men and women myself. These aspiring young professionals are often still struggling with how to navigate tricky work situations, politics and or improve their confidence and communication skills. Having been through many of the same challenges they face, it is always gratifying to see how my experiences help these bright young people to manage their professional lives and thrive.
Indeed, the benefits young people gain from being mentored have been heavily studied and documented, and include:
- Increased high school and tertiary graduation rates
- Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
- Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
- Broader networks and social circles
- Decreased likelihood of drug and alcohol use
PPN is working together with UTS to provide mentorship to their tertiary students through the Pasifika Mentoring Program. PPN members who have completed their studies and have worked in different industries for many years will be available to provide specialised and culturally sensitive advice to our pacific youth.
