Alumni give back as mentors

Posted: March 6, 2017 11:30 a.m.

(l-r) Alumni Mark Stefan, Amna Gul Choudhry and Brentt Becker share with us their positive experience mentoring students. Photos submitted

Brentt Becker recalls with great fondness the help and guidance he received from his mentors while a student at the Paul J. Hill School of Business.

When Becker graduated in 2016, he vowed to give back to the University. He volunteered his time to be a mentor at recent Alumni Student Career information sessions. As luck would have it, one of Becker’s mentors was also at the session – Mark Stefan.

“It was great seeing Mark again. He was a great mentor. I’m simply passing on some of the things I learned from him,” says Becker. “My interest in this mentorship started back from my involvement in the Hill Mentorship Program in my final two years of University. I consider it one of the most essential decisions in my university career.”  

Nearly two dozen alumni volunteered at special sessions in January, to share their individual journeys in their chosen field with current students. Alumni spoke of the highs and lows and lessons learned sharing their valuable insights with interested students. The first of eight sessions featured Brentt, Mark and Amna Gul Choudhry in a discussion of their careers in financial services. We asked them for their thoughts on what it means to give back in this way.

Mark Stefan is an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities in Regina.  

I have been involved in mentoring young people for a number of years. I have been a mentor with the Paul Hill School of Business mentor program for the past seven years. I am also a Past President of the U of R Alumni and I believe in our motto - As One Who Serves. This session was another opportunity to “give back” to my Alma Mater. And, selfishly, I am energized by young people.

What do you get out of being a mentor?  

Fulfillment of purpose in sharing life with young people. The U of R has done so much for me - education, experience, opportunity, community, alumni and so much more.

Brentt Becker is a Financial Services Representative at Farm Credit Corporation in Regina. He graduated from the Paul J. Hill School of Business in 2016.

“I feel that the students gain insight into the importance of preparing for life after school as early as possible through the experience of Alumni members. Students benefit from hearing from both recent grads just entering the workforce and well established professionals.    
 
What do you get out of this?

Being a mentor allows me a chance to share my experience and a chance to pay it forward as I have had the privilege of having great mentors in my life. It also is an opportunity for myself to grow and continue to build my network in this early stage of my career.  

Amna Gul Choudhry is a Financial Services Supervisor at the Regina Police Service. She graduated in Business Administration in 2016 with an Accounting Major (B.B.A.).

I was quite involved on campus during my four years of University with ambassadors, as a resident assistant, President of Enactus, on the organizing committee for Terry fox on campus, etc. Mentoring for this session gave me the opportunity to be on the other side of the table, to share my experience of how my university life has helped me achieve my goals today. It was not just about going to classes but building my personality through all the other activities I did.

What benefits do you feel students get out of such sessions?

This is an opportunity for the students to start building their network, learning from past alumni, building their communication skill and most importantly separating themselves out of the thousands of students going to the U of R by taking initiative of what to expect in the future and how they can take a part in the community now.

I would not have been able to achieve some of my goals if it wasn't for some of my mentors I had during University, I am grateful for them. They helped me into a person I am today, pushed me to be my best and more, and started my network and wish to give back.  
 
All the mentors were asked how they felt about the sessions. The responses were overwhelmingly positive and nearly all stated they would do this again and recommend this to fellow alumni. If you would like to mentor our students please contact uralumni@uregina.ca