Engaging with The Youth Through Virtual Mentoring

I was interested in volunteering and I chose to engage with youth in the Youth Mentorship  Cafés because I have past experiences that are similar to what current students and youth [are] now facing in University. I think my experience will help other students overcome these challenges as most of them may feel isolated and want to express themselves by finding their own footing. I enjoyed working with the youth in a virtual setting as it is expanding the way we are engaging within the community. From these opportunities, [I’ve] developed my leadership skills, teamwork skills, and the ability to speak in front of the public. Aside from this, the youth were very engaged with the events and were inspired by the advice we provided them based on our own experiences. With the pandemic, since everything has become virtual, it helped me become more engaged with youth who are part of my community. Taking the time to volunteer helps young people develop personal skills, discoverwho you are as a person, and become part of a support system for youth who are struggling today. 

(Lana Leal, 3^rd Year Student in Linguistics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).

I wanted to meet more people and help within the community, especially those who have been affected by COVID-19 as I aspired to make their transition into university life more smoother. These programs educate prospective students about what university life is really like and provide them with guidence to help them discover programs that are of interest to them. With online virtual programming, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, expand my volunteer experience, and do my best to create a better society. From this program, I was able to improve my teamwork skills, leadership skills, and my verbal communication. One of the events that [are] significant to me is the Youth Mentorship Cafes as I was able to provide career advice to students. I love to help people and being able to share my SFU experience with them was very meaningful. These programs are a great opportunity to meet people, become part of the community, and develop skills in a safe and supportive environment. 

(Scott Tian, 3^rd Year Beedie Student, SFU Beedie School of Business).

In May 2020, I had been unemployed for 3 months and was looking for work. The job search became more difficult due to COVID-19 and I began seeing a drastic increase in job applications for all platforms, particularly in LinkedIn. I was getting interviews at the time, but I had experienced rejection after rejection and began to feel quite depressed. Like many recent graduates, I was concerned that I wouldn't have anything to show for on my resume for the year 2020.

I decided that this was the time to begin looking for virtual volunteer opportunities. From May 2020 to November 2020, I supported newcomer youth and students by offering them a safe space where they could ask questions about selecting courses, maintaining grades, managing depression, and coping with anxiety. The Youth Mentorship Cafés also informed students of the various options that were available within each university and college, from UBC, KPU, Douglas College, BCIT, and others. 

Another program that I was involved in was YAAS: Let's Talk Postsecondary! This was a program available through partnering with the City of Surrey Summer Online Youth Night series. In this program, I worked with other SFU students to talk about the transition from high school to university. We covered topics from the benefits of joining a club to the importance of getting involved in your university career, such as pursuing Co-operative Education, internships, or even something as simple as volunteering within your university.

Understandably, most students out there wonder if their degree will lead them to finding a job after graduation. The unfortunate reality is because the job market is such a fickle environment (especially with the pandemic) that students need to do everything they can to be prepared when they leave with their degree in hand. The best way to do this is to avoid focusing on your studies for the 5-7 years that you are in a university or college. Students need to keep their resume current because at the end of the day, your degree is simply a requirement. It's one line on a job description and if you don't have work or volunteer experience to back up your skills, you're not going to get very far in a job search.

I believe programs such as the Youth Mentorship Cafés and the City of Surrey's Online Youth Nights are of significant value as students who graduate from high-school face a great deal of pressure when it comes to not only selecting a university, but also a program that they will study for the next 5-7 years. These programs are not meant to replace the work that academic advisors do, but they provide a thorough summary of the available post-secondary options that students have in British Columbia.

(Inoka Jayaweera, SFU Alumnus, Degree in Gender Studies and Education minor in Curriculum and Instruction Theroy)