United Women f Mentee St
UnitedWomenforChangeisamentorshipandscholarshipprogrammecreatedforyoungwomen fromunderrepresented,disadvantaged,andconflict-affectedcommunities.
AtUWCAtlantic,webelievethatempoweringoneyoungwomancantransformher future andtheworldaroundher Throughmentorship,leadershipopportunities,and apowerfulsupportnetwork,wehelpstudentsthriveduringtheirtimeatUWCand beyond
Inthefollowingmenteestories,ourstudentsshare theirexperiencesfromtheUnitedWomenforChange programmeandhowworkingwithandbeing supportedbyamentorhashelpedthemdevelop.
Frombeingseenandvaluedanddevelopingselfconfidencethroughtoguidanceontheirpersonal andcareergrowth,thesuccessandbenefitsofa mentorareinvaluable.
Mentor:Jolande(AC‘94)
IjoinedtheUnitedWomenforChange mentoringprogrammebecauseIknewit wasanopportunitytolearnfromsomeonewho trulycared.Notjustanyone,butanACalum willingtodevotetheirtimetohelpingayoung womanbecomesomethinggreatThatalone mademefeelseenandvalued.
Katrina-HongKong Mentor:Priscilla(AC‘74)
Theprogrammewasattractivetomebecauseit meantIcouldconnectwithgenerationsofAC studentsbeyondjustmyco-yearsandsecond years.ItwouldalsomeanthatIcouldreceive guidancefromawomanwhograduatedlikeI willnextyear,wholeftthetight-knitAC communityintothewiderworld,and establishedherselfinthefieldofherchoice
Mymentor,Priscilla,isanaccomplished photographerandwriter,andweclicked instantly,discussingeverythingfromdifferences inAClifeovertheyears,toourrespective creativepractices Shestressedtomethe importanceoffindingtimeandspacetokeep nurturingmycreativespiritatAC,andthe eternalimportanceoftheartsinaworldthatis continuouslysprintingforward
Lookingback,IcanseehowmuchI’vechanged. WhenIfirststarted,Iwassoshy,butnowI’ve grownintoaconfidentyoungwomanwillingto challengeherselfinwaysIneverthought possible.I’vegonefrombeingquiettowritinga letterhomeaboutimprovingeducation, speakingupduringcouncilmeetings,and havingasmanyconversationsaspossible. Wouldtheoldmehavedoneanyofthis?Idon’t thinkso.Mymentorhasbeensuchakindand supportiveperson,andI’mreallygratefulfor her
Onetakeawaythatwillalwaysstaywithmeis thewaymymentortaughtmetoreflectToask myself,AmItheonlypersonfeelinglikethis? WhydoIfeelthisway?Andwhatisreally stoppingme?Thosequestionshavehelpedme pushpastself-doubtandwillcontinuetoguide meinthefuture
Asforwhat’snextitfeelslikeasuperstitionto saytoomuch!ButIdohopethatoneday,Ican returnthefavorbybecomingamentorto anotheryoungwoman,helpingherinthesame wayI’vebeenhelped
Denise-Namibia
Oyuka-Mongolia Mentor:Ebru
IknewthatIwantedtomakeinformed decisionsaboutmyfuture,butIwasn’tsure wheretostartWhenIheardaboutthe mentorshipprogramme,Isawitastheperfect opportunitytogainguidancefromsomeone whohasalreadynavigateduniversity,different careers,andtheprofessionalworldHavinga mentorhasgivenmerealinsightsintowhat mattersbeyondacademicssuchasadviceon howtobuildskills,makeconnections,andset myselfupforsuccess.
Sofar,theexperiencehasbeenincrediblyeyeopeningMymentorhashelpedmethinkmore strategicallyaboutmyfuture,includingwhatto study,whatcareerpathsalignwithmyinterests, andhowtogainrelevantexperienceearlyon. It’sbeenreassuringtohaveasupportsystem outsideofschool,someonewhogenuinely wantstohelpandshareknowledgethatI wouldn’thaveotherwisehadaccessto. Throughthisprogramme,Ihopetogaina clearersenseofdirectionandconfidenceinthe stepsIneedtotake.Understandingpartsofhow theprofessionalworldactuallyworkshasbeen invaluableMymentorhasalreadygivenmeso muchpracticaladviceaboutindustries, networking,andtheimportanceofbeing proactive.
Onekeytakeawayfromourconversationshas beentheimportanceofadaptabilityand buildingstrongprofessionalconnections. Careerpathsaren’talwayslinear,andkeeping anopenmind,takingopportunities,and formingmeaningfulrelationshipscanopen doorsIneverevenconsideredbefore. Lookingahead,I’mexcitedtokeeplearningand growingwiththisguidanceHavingthiskindof mentorshipwhilestillinschoolmakessucha difference.It’sanopportunityIwould recommendtoanyone
Anna-Ukraine Mentor:Ritu(AC‘87)
OurfirstmeetingwithMarynaandRituwas particularlymeaningfulforme,asitcame duringachallengingperiodofadaptationBeing awayfrommyfamily,navigatingacompletely newenvironment,anddealingwiththe pressureofcommunicatinginanon-native languagemadeitdifficulttofocusand understandwhatItrulyneeded.That’swhythis meetingwassoimportant-itgaveusthe opportunitytospeakwithwomenwhohad alreadybeenthroughsimilarexperiencesand couldoffervaluableadviceonhowtonavigate them.
Forme,Ritu’sinsightswereespeciallyvaluable becauseofmystronginterestinpoliticsAsthe headofCAREInternationalandsomeone closelyengagedwithAmericanpolitics,she providedafirsthandperspectiveonwhat workinginpoliticstrulyentailsOur conversationsgavemeadeeperunderstanding ofthefield,whichIfoundincrediblyinspiring. Ireallyenjoyedmymentorshipexperiencewith Ritu,butIbelievethereareafewaspectsthat couldhavemadeitevenmorevaluable.Firstly, reflectingoneachmeetinganddiscussingkey takeawayswithsomeoneafterwardwouldhave helpedconsolidatewhatIlearned.Additionally, planningsessionsinadvancewithclear objectivescouldhavemadethediscussions morestructuredSecondly,focusingona specifictopic:suchassocialentrepreneurship, andworkingthroughtheentireprocess,from ideadevelopmenttoimplementation,with guidancefromamentorwouldhavebeena greatwaytogainpracticalinsights Overall,thisexperiencehasbeentruly meaningfulforme,andI’mincrediblygrateful fortheopportunityIwouldliketosincerely thankKelly,NsikaandCarissaformakingit happen!
Hema-Myanmmar Mentor:Laura(AC‘94)
IwantedtojointheUnitedWomenforChange mentorshipprogrammebecauseIwasexcited toconnectwithsomeonewhosharesmy interests.Havingamentorwhounderstandsmy passionfortechnologyandengineeringisvery valuabletome.Ialsosawthisprogrammeasan opportunitytolearnfromanexperienced professional,gaininsightsintotheindustry,and receiveguidanceonmypersonalandcareer growth
Sofar,myexperiencehasbeengreat.Ihavehad thechancetobuildconnectionsandlearnfrom mymentor’sexperiencesIthasbeeninspiring tohearaboutherjourney,thechallengesshe faced,andhowsheovercamethemHeradvice hasgivenmeanewperspectiveonhowto approachmyowngoals
OneofthemostimportantlessonsIhave learnedfrommymentoristotakemytimeand notrushtheprocessIoftenfeeltheneedto achieveeverythingquickly,butshehas remindedmethatgoodthingscomestepby step.Thisadvicehashelpedmeapproachmy studiesandprojectswithmorepatienceand confidence
Lookingback,Irealizethatduringmyfirst meetingwithmymentor,Iimmediatelystarted discussingmyprojectinsteadoftakingtimeto buildpersonalconnection.Inowunderstand thatIshouldhavealsosoughtemotional supportandusedtheopportunitytogetto knowherbetterFortunately,sheisaverykind andsupportiveperson,andIbelievethatIwill stillbeabletocarryouttheprojectwe discussedduringmytimeatUWC. Movingforward,Ihopetocontinueworkingon myprojectwhileapplyingthelessonsIhave learnedfrommymentorIalsowanttoexplore moreopportunitiesintechnology,especiallyin engineering,anddeveloptheskillsthatwillhelp meinmyfuturecareer.
Chimwemwe-Zambia Mentor:Jolande(AC‘94)
BeingpartoftheUWfCMentorshipprogramh beensotransformative.Mywholelife,I’veseen womenconfinedtosmallerrolesandtheir abilitieslimited.AtthesametimeIhaveseen extraordinaryandbrilliantwomen,andI wonderedhowI’dgetthere.WhenIjoinedthis programIwassearchingforguidancetohelp mefindmyvoice,buildconfidence,andstep intomyfullpotential.Thisprogramhasgiven meexactlythatandsomuchmore,Ican'teven begintoexplain.Throughthisprogramandthe incrediblewomenaroundme,I’vewitnesseda powerfultransformation,provingthatrace, gender,andbackgrounddonotdefineour limits,onlyourresilienceanddeterminationdo. Ihavehadthegreatopportunitytospeakup andstepoutofmycomfortzone.Thishappened duringtheUnitedWomenForChangeForum evenwhereIhadtheprivilegeofbeingacoMC oftheeventThiswasdefinitelyamomentof growthformeandanopportunityand experiencethatIwillalwaysremember Mymentorhasbeenthegreatestgiftofthis journey.Herguidance,encouragement,and beliefinmehavehelpedmepushpastselfdoubtandstepintonewopportunitieswith courage.Onekeytakeawayfromheristhat confidenceisn’tsomethingyoumaster,it's somethingyoucreatebytakingaction,even whenyoufeeluncertain
Throughthisprogram,I’venotonlygained knowledgeandskillsbutalsofriendshipsanda deepsenseofpurposeLookingahead,Iwantto continuebuildingonthis,embracingleadership opportunities,andusingmyvoicetoempower othersjustasIhavebeenempowered.My greatesthopeforthefutureistobecomea mentormyselfoneday,payingforwardthe supportandinspirationthathaschangedmy lifeThisisjustthebeginning,andIamexcited foreverythingthatliesahead!