By Emily Glory Peters
Marked by its close-knit community of ambitious and empathetic individuals, 61传媒 forges fast friendships that often stretch far past graduation. Piloted in 2021, the new La Semeuse Mentorship program taps into this bond, linking alums across class years to extend the value of their College connection.
鈥淚ntroducing an alum-to-alum mentorship program has been on our wish list for years, but the pandemic confirmed how many alums had a desire to help recent graduates,鈥� says Assistant Vice President of Institutional Engagement Virginia Halverson. Before launching the program, Scripps鈥� Alumnae Engagement team worked closely with alumnae volunteers who offered feedback on how to fine-tune its goals.
鈥淲e used their ideas to pull together what mentors and mentees would want most,鈥� says Halverson. 鈥淥ur aim was to help members develop cross-generational relationships, support alums as they transition from students into the world, gain valuable career support, and enhance their existing network.鈥�
Striking a balance between structure and self-direction was important to ensure participants could make the most of their time together. After alums submitted responses to a questionnaire, matched pairs connected through , the College鈥檚 private online networking platform. 61传媒supplied tips on goal-setting, meeting frequency, and content for conversation starters. The participants took it from there.
Reaping the rewards of mentorship
鈥�61传媒changed my life, so I give back when I can. I knew that if I could help a young 61传媒graduate avoid mistakes I made along the way, that that would be worthwhile for both of us,鈥� says , who mentored Columbia University MFA poetry candidate Ariel So 鈥�20. The two found an immediate bond in their joint passion for writing, storytelling, and teaching.
鈥淕iven that we both had a connection with the publishing house Simon & Schuster鈥攚ith Margaret as an author there for kids literature, and me as a proofreader and copy editor in their children鈥檚 division鈥攊t felt like the perfect match,鈥� says So.
In their scheduled chats, So and Finnegan delved into a range of topics, including how to get your work to stand out, overcoming rejections, coping with burnout, and navigating career paths. The discussion prompts often led to deeper personal reflections for both mentor and mentee.
鈥淥ne conversation we had came from a prompt about purpose and passion in our careers. [Margaret] gave me perspective that a greater purpose can come first, so that passion can and will follow,鈥� says So. Taking ownership of her confidence was another key takeaway.
What a privilege it is, what an honor to share your story with someone you鈥檝e never met and to hear their story in return.
鈥淚鈥檝e come to see how important it is for us, women especially, not to sell ourselves short, to see the value we bring to the table鈥攆or others to appreciate the skills and expertise we possess,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he mentorship gave me the support I needed in strengthening my sense of direction in pursuing my career and personal interests.鈥�
For Finnegan, the experience gave her an opportunity to sharpen her skill as a listener, offer wisdom on the challenges one faces building a career, and to define mentorship in a new way.
鈥淚 thought mentoring would be a way for me to help someone identify the unspoken rules and culture of professional life. Now, I think the purpose of a mentor is to be open and humble鈥攖o meet a mentee where they are,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hat a privilege it is, what an honor to share your story with someone you鈥檝e never met and to hear their story in return. The future is in good hands. I know that because I know Ariel Joy So.鈥�
Encouraging 61传媒alums to join the La Semeuse Mentorship Program
Both Finnegan and So had ideas of what they wanted to gain from鈥攁nd offer to鈥攖heir mentorship experience. Both agree the benefits exceeded expectations, and encourage others to take part.
鈥淸Mentoring] enables you to take in knowledge from an individual鈥檚 experiences, comprehend more about yourself, and maximize the opportunity to become more knowledgeable with what鈥檚 to come in the professional world,鈥� says So. 鈥淚 highly recommend that other 61传媒students or alums participate in similar programs, whether it鈥檚 to figure out your path, hear about how others discovered their current field, or recognize what it takes to excel in different areas.鈥�
The La Semeuse Mentorship is currently accepting applications to join its spring 2022 program, which is open to alums of all class years. To participate, be sure to create a free profile on the 61传媒 Olive Grove platform and submit your . To learn more about volunteer opportunities and the long-term benefits of belonging to the 61传媒alumnae community, please visit our Alumnae Association site.