From Mentee to Mentor: The Lasting Power of Mentorship 

This Mentoring Month, Trent University celebrates alumni who recognize the impact of their Trent mentors and now give of their time and experience to mentor others. 

January 11, 2024

January is Mentoring Month, a global campaign dedicated to recognizing mentorship and its profound impact on people's personal and professional lives. Having a mentor who can share their experience, offer advice, and provide guidance is a proven asset for students and young alumni. In fact, statistics show that young people who have the support of a formal mentor are three times more likely to report good or excellent mental health and are 78% more likely to be employed compared to youth who had informal mentors. 

Mentees also report feeling a sense of gratitude: more than 60% of adults who mentor report having a positive sense of giving back and investing in the next generation.  

This January, we introduce four outstanding Trent alumni who have been inspired to mentor in their communities.  

Sharon Walter ’19 (Champlain College) 

For Sharon Walter, starting at Trent as an international student had its challenges. With the goal of better adapting to an educational system that was unfamiliar to her, Sharon enrolled in Trent’s Rebound Program, a peer-support initiative that provides students with connections to resources, services, and networks on campus to help in the transition to university life. Sharon’s experience as a mentee was life changing and inspired her to become a Rebound guide in her third year.  Being both a mentee and mentor in a program that was so valuable to her, Sharon gained a unique understanding of why mentorship matters. 

Sharon also worked as a sexual violence prevention educator with Consent at Trent, the University’s sexual and gender-based violence resource and support program. In this position, her mentor provided guidance and support that was invaluable; Sharon developed powerful listening and trust-building skills which allowed her to excel in the role. She would later move on to subsequent positions where she would mentor others to build similar abilities. 

Sharon is now working as a community coordinator for Outside Looking In, an Indigenous led non-profit that works with First Nations communities to bring arts programming to schools, inspiring Indigenous youth to continue and complete their education. Relationship building is key to Sharon’s success, and she prides herself on approaching relationships with an open mind and positive energy.  

Nabel Bendago ‘09 (Gzowski College) 

Being curious has always come naturally to Nabel Bendago but that curiosity was ignited during his time at Trent University when he found himself supported by a network of professors, classmates, and community members. These encouraging relationships allowed him to lean into his inquisitive ways and to reach out when he needed guidance, creating lasting mentorship relationships. 

Today, Nabel gives back as a mentor, offering his experience to aspiring entrepreneurs. Having experienced for himself the nurturing support of his mentors, he now sees how his approachable demeanor means mentorship opportunities come to him in unexpected places. Recently, a university student in Toronto approached him in a coffee shop after a few weeks of the two crossing paths. The pair enjoyed coffee together and Nabel was able offer some life lessons to the young student, who took this advice to heart, which quickly led to a new job opportunity. 

He sees creating meaningful and impactful relationships as a reciprocal investment that can have significant advantages.  

“You are your resume,” he says. “Marketing yourself and creating a network that is mutually beneficial is truly powerful.” Throughout his dynamic career in the business and start-up sector, the connections he has formed through networking have always proven successful, affording him career options without ever formally applying for a job. From Nabel’s perspective, that’s the power of mentorship.   

The journey for Nabel always leads back to what he truly cares about: building meaningful relationships. He believes that you are truly a mentee for life, saying, “If you are seeking out opportunities for growth and learning new things from those around you, you are engaging in mentorship.” 

Michelle Ryken ’17

For Michelle Ryken, mentorship has taken place through formal programming and informal networking and relationship building. During her studies at Trent University Durham GTA, she worked as an academic mentor. She found it especially rewarding to see the growth of her peers, which encouraged her to become a mentorship coordinator at the University. In this role, Michelle acted as liaison between students and mentors, giving her a new appreciation for the success of these relationships. 

As a student herself, Michelle had wonderful mentors who encouraged her to pursue her interest in research, introducing her to research methods mostly inaccessible to undergrad students. Above all, her mentors believed in her, which motivated her and fostered a desire to pay it forward.  Michelle emphasized the value of reaching out to mentors with questions, highlighting the diversity of support available within Trent's alumni network. 

Michelle encourages others to take risks and embrace potential rejection as a temporary setback, emphasizing the transformative impact mentorship can have both personally and professionally. 

Cameron Munro ‘07 (Champlain College) 

Cameron Munro's journey in mentorship, ignited during his time at Trent, reflects the profound impact mentors can have on one's professional life.  

Early in his time at Trent, Cameron connected with rowing coach Carol Love. Cameron had no experience in rowing, but under Carol’s guidance he became one of the top five ranking rowers at the Canadian National Rowing Championships for his age and weight class within two years. Carol’s mentorship, along with Cameron’s eagerness to learn, was a combination for success.  

Cameron’s eagerness extended beyond athletics.  In his academic role he was mentored by many professors, but his online marketing professor Sofie Andreou went above and beyond. Under their guidance, Cameron was a founding member of the TrentWorks digital marketing agency, a student and alumni-based web development, search engine optimization, and social media marketing agency providing services to Peterborough area businesses and non-profits. This position provided Cameron with valuable real-world marketing experience.  

Cameron’s TrentWorks experience has come full circle. A former client of the program recently approached him with a business opportunity and Cameron is now co-founder of their new digital marketing agency. The impact of this experience, and the mentors who made it possible, have created countless professional opportunities. 

Interested in mentorship opportunities at Trent to inspire and support the next generation of leaders? Visit our Life After Trent page for more information.