SENIOR MENTOR
Real Life Advice S
Mr Mark Stapleton, Senior Mentor
So, what on Earth is ‘E-mentoring’ and is it something that all of us can be actively involved in, or just another gobbledegook pat phrase that is on a par with ‘networking’ and ‘touching-base’? In reality E-mentoring facilitates new opportunities for past and present students and any interested individual who wants to give something back to others, or pass on their own knowledge of study and the workplace. We live in an increasingly complex society where the art of communication has drastically changed from a focus on face-to-face, direct communication to interaction via technology. E-mentoring aims to forge links between former students and friends with current students interested in finding out more about courses of study, college life, tertiary study expectations and about the workplace generally.
The aim is to establish a virtual mentoring environment in which both the student and the mentor are able to flourish. A staff monitored database featuring the skills and occupations of our E-mentors will be used so that a student seeking advice about a particular industry can be put in touch with a tertiary student studying in that area, or talk to someone who is currently working in that occupation. This programme is already underway, with former student and UWA Fogarty Scholarship recipient Jordi Lockhart recently visiting our current Year 12 students to offer advice on applying for Scholarships and what they can expect from their first year of Tertiary education. He gave practical advice on how to apply for Scholarships, the types of Scholarships to consider and the importance of keeping up cocurricular interests as students entered their final examinations. Class of 2011 member Lauren Repton also recently returned to the School to address senior Design classes. Currently studying Creative Advertising and Graphic Design at Curtin University, Lauren spoke about the subjects on offer at University, how the work correlates between what students are doing at School and what will be expected at University, and shared her portfolio of work with the students. It is firsthand experiences such as these that give our current students a real insight into the expectations of study or work, and opportunities to ask questions and consider information relevant to their future lives. To become a mentor please email mstapleton@bcgs.wa.edu.au. Please include your area(s) of previous study and the nature of your current occupation.
- Around the School 22 -