Tina Felfeli
Written: February 16, 2016
Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.
John C. Crosby
For the last 20 years, the Saturday Program at U of T has been providing enrichment activities and resources to support personal and professional development for Toronto’s inner city high school students from diverse cultural backgrounds. U of T medical students make up a bulk of the mentors and instructors that hold weekly workshops and career exploration sessions, together with Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Radiation Sciences, Speech Language Pathology, and other professional faculties such as Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Engineering and Graduate Studies.
I was drawn to the program because I know the true value of mentorship. I know from personal experience how a push in the right direction and recognition of a unique strength can make a big difference in shaping future development. I was able to see students become more engaged in the activities and gain confidence in their own abilities over time with the support of their mentors.
Through the experience, I learned some valuable lessons myself – the value of friendship. Taking the time to get to know the personal stories, unique qualities and values of each of the students provided a strong foundation for our friendship. My mentee and I didn't just solve math problems – we talked about our favorite movies, songs and hobbies. Having these conversations and reflecting back on my own high school memories provided me with an appreciation of the positive learning experiences I have had. I shared many laughs and unforgettable moments, not only with the mentees, but also my fellow classmates.
The fun and exciting atmosphere of the Saturday program is enhanced by workshops ranging from the University of Toronto Emergency First Responders First Aid class to the ice cream making classes. It is not only an opportunity to be a mentor for others, but also a great chance to meet an amazing group of volunteers from different faculties across U of T.
Even with the busy schedule of undergraduate medical education, our devoted volunteers looked forward to attending the Saturday Program event each week. Having the opportunity to develop a close relationship with a mentee and cultivate their skills in an area of interest is a very rewarding experience.
The Saturday Program’s opening ceremony took place on Saturday, January 23, 2016. Volunteers, mentors and mentees, along with their family members had the chance to meet for the first time and enjoy student performances and a motivational talk. This year, students, tutors and volunteers came together each Saturday for ten weeks at the Medical Sciences Building to take part in this mentorship experience.
This student experience article expresses the views of first year MD Program student Tina Felfeli and is not meant to be representative of the entire student experience, nor represent the MD Program.