Georgian College

Our alumni mentors are established professionals who are committed to helping students and recent graduates to prepare for the transition to work or further their education. Mentors strengthen students' understanding of their chosen fields and help to expand their professional networks. For this project, our mentors worked with more than 140 students to ensure they were able to complete their co-op terms. Jamie Campbell | Manager, Alumni Engagement, Annual and Legacy Giving Become a mentor today. Visit GeorgianAlumni.ca. "Growing up in Barrie, I knew that I really liked math and science. I just didn't know what I wanted to do with it," says Michael Joyce, who graduated from Georgian College's Computer Programmer Analyst program in 2017. "I found my career at Georgian." "There were so many things that worked well for me throughout my program," he says. "The hands-on learning experiences from my co-op placements and team-based learning projects with other students created a sense of community that I carry with me to this day." Michael notes that through his three co-op experiences, he was given a gift of guidance and mentorship that is hard to replicate in a textbook. "My first co-op employer taught me about real-life experiences, like when a program breaks, to ensure it breaks gracefully," he says with a smile. "I also learned to apply the knowledge that I gained in school to the conversations I was having in the workplace. Having a technical solution for a technical problem is important, but you also need to know how to explain it to somebody in a way that they can understand." In the fall of 2020, Michael was given the opportunity to pay it forward. It was eight months after the COVID-19 global pandemic had been declared, and many of Georgian's employer partners were finding their workplaces impacted with reduced occupancy rules or total closures. As a result, many students were unable to complete their co-op placements. "When I learned of these challenges from the alumni engagement team, I remembered how valuable those experiences were to me, and I just had to help," says Michael. Georgian's Co-op and Career Success team had developed a number of alternative learning options that, when combined, would allow students to achieve their program learning outcomes. One of these options involved a partnership with the college's alumni engagment team, which paired Georgian graduates with students who were able to learn from alumni experiences and gain valuable workplace insight. Michael provided mentor support to eight students in November and December 2020, helping them to complete their academic terms. "The students came with great questions," he recalls. "I shared a lot, but one of the most important discussions that I had with students was about the importance of finding a way to market what they were learning and doing in school. Many students don't have a lot of formal work experience coming out of college, but being able to dissect your experiences and apply what you've learned to the workplace will help you secure that first job." Michael also shares the need to strike a balance. "As mentors, it's important to be honest and share our experiences, but we have to remain cognisant of the fact that these students still need to choose a path that is right for them," he says. He acknowledges that being an alumni-student mentor has been beneficial for him, as well. "Technology- based industries change so quickly, and it is helpful to know what is being taught now," he says. "It also reminds you about why you took the program, when you ask a student about their experience and see their eyes light up. They learn something new every week and are genuinely excited about it." Today, Michael works as a business analyst with Skyline Group of Companies, a management, acquisition, and investment group based in Guelph, Ontario. 43 GEORGIANVIEW 2021 SPRING MENTORSHIP ALUMNUS BECOMES STUDENT MENTOR Michael Joyce, class of 2017

• Cover