#SenecaProud

Pat Perdue  00:00

Hey I'm Pat Perdue and I'd like to welcome you to season four of the Seneca Proud podcast. Okay, so COVID isn't quite a thing of the past but it's going to be. And that's great news. Because we've got our sights set on an amazing future. And I hope you do too. Students will be returning to classes, little by little. Classes will be offered in a more inclusive way using leading edge technologies. And we're getting set for an incredibly bright, inclusive, equitable future. And the future is what Seneca Proud season four is all about. Everything from the near-term future of life at Seneca College in a post-pandemic world, it's going to be pretty great, to what life after Seneca means. And hey, if you're a student, I get that life after Seneca is something that's on your mind. What are you going to do? Are you going to measure up to the competition? And what can you do today to really set yourself up to succeed? To help with those questions, this season includes graduated Seneca students who have been out there doing their thing for at least a few years. We'll hear their ups and their downs, and what you can do to help set yourself up for success. So if you haven't already, subscribe and download. And join me as we consider the future and meet the people who are transforming dreams into reality. Because the next episode of Seneca Proud starts now. 

Hey, welcome to another episode of the Seneca Proud Podcast. I'm Pat Perdue, and I'm super excited to share today's episode with you. Because it touches on so much of what makes Seneca College great. This is the holiday episode of Seneca Proud. This time of year we have people getting ready to celebrate Christmas. So if you're in the Toronto area, one thing folks like to do is check out the Christmas Market in the Distillery District. Super fun and a great place to find unique gifts or just walk around. Another thing to do, especially if you have a car, is to drive to Niagara on the Lake. A lot of people, particularly international students at Seneca, go to Niagara Falls. And that's fine. I mean, you’ve got to check it out, right? But let's face it, once you've seen them, it's kind of like…it. You're like, okay, that's the Falls. It's a lot of water. So what's next? [laughter] So if you're planning to check out the Falls, you won't regret stopping for a visit at Niagara on the Lake. Super cute town. Sort of touristy. And also a great place to pick up unique one of a kind gifts if that's your thing. And this time of year can also be a difficult time for people. If we're away from home and missing family, this time of year we get constant reminders of that. And with all the social cues to be with people this time of year, it's really easy to feel especially alone. It is. It's also the time of year where there's the least light. Winter Solstice is December 21, the longest night of the year. So this holiday season, be good to you. Take time for yourself. Maybe consider what 2022 will bring. Personally, this time of year, I like to specifically carve out time for myself to consider the year that's past and to create some intentions for the year to come. So regardless of how you observe this season, take some time for you. Because you're important. And I'm glad you're here. Okay, so about today's show. I'm super excited to share this with you. You may or may not know about the SMILE program at Seneca College. SMILE is a mentorship program that puts new students in touch with a senior student mentor within a similar program area or identity who can support them in their transition to Seneca. And our guests today, we have two guests, are both students who participate in the SMILE program in different ways. Ar Jay Mateo is in his first year at Seneca at York. Ar Jay is a CLP student, Chemical Laboratory-tech Pharmaceutical. And is an avid reader, gamer, and sings and runs for fun. Awesome. And our other guest, Toni Pettit, previously graduated from the Recreational and Leisure Services diploma program. And currently is studying in the Child and Youth Care advanced diploma program. Toni is a mentor in the SMILE program that I mentioned. And Ar Jay who also goes by AJ is her mentee, so to speak. So in our conversation, you'll hear about the SMILE program and you'll also hear a lot of what makes both Ar Jay and Toni such great examples of why Seneca College is such a great place. Of course, it's always about the people and these two are pretty amazing. I loved getting to meet them and I'm excited to share our conversation with you. Here's my interview with Toni Pettit and Ar Jay Mateo about the SMILE program. We start off with Toni talking about SMILE. Then it's over to Ar Jay for what he gets out of it. Here's Toni Pettit to start things off sharing what the SMILE program is.

 

Toni Pettit  05:13

I know they use the words mentor and mentee but it's more of a partnership program. So they partner you up with somebody who has your best interests in transitioning into college at heart. So helping you navigate all of the various complexities of How do you use Blackboard? Where do I go for accommodations? Where do I go to change my course program? All those kinds of pieces. So for me, it's a partnership. As you journey along, someone else who's already gone down the path is helping you to navigate that.

 

Pat Perdue  05:53

Nice. And AJ, what's your experience with SMILE? How did you learn about it and get involved with it as a mentee?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  06:02

Well, I found this SMILE mentoring program back in September from the Seneca orientation. And I was interested in knowing more of the student life in Seneca. For example, volunteering and probably how to navigate around Seneca. And I believe that this mentoring program offered this kind of research that I wanted. Because I'm still in my first year right now. And I want to explore a lot of things. And this is my first mentoring experience to date. So I took it because it doesn't really hurt to try it anyway.

 

Pat Perdue  06:35

Doesn't hurt to try, right? Great approach. And share with us a little bit. AJ, about your experience transitioning into Seneca. It can be super daunting because it's a really big place. How did it go? And how's it going?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  06:51

So as of now, I would say that it is a commitment to be attending a program that is related to chemistry and the STEM program. Because everything is knowledge-based and theory. And I feel like, with this academic journey, I'm doing everything fine because I've learned a lot from Toni. In terms of managing time and carefully managing my stress throughout the semester. And I'm learning a lot of stuff from my mentor right now. And pretty much every time that we meet, we just vibe every time. And I just love this experience, to be honest.

 

Pat Perdue  07:35

That's amazing. And something you mentioned, and I noticed that Toni was nodding in understanding, when you mentioned managing your stress. Starting out at Seneca, or any post secondary institution, can be overwhelming. So Toni, can you share with us a little bit about maybe your experience? What brought you into SMILE? And your experience as a mentor?

 

Toni Pettit  07:58

Yeah, definitely. So ages and ages ago, I went to university. And I went straight out of high school. And I had no idea what I was doing at all. And I distinctly remember getting a message from my friends saying So what's your schedule like? I'm like, Schedule? What schedule? And then flying to the local library to go into the computer to figure out how to get into my courses. And that whole year was very lonely, I think for me. I didn't know how to connect. I didn't know how to make friends. I didn't know where to meet people. And my personality is…it's not one to just go up to a group of people and be like, Hey, my name is Toni. So when I became a part of Seneca one of the first things, I think this must have been within the first month for sure, I saw these advertisements for SMILE mentors. And I was like, Wow, I want to be that person–kind of a thing. So I made it an effort in my first term to volunteer everywhere. Wherever there was someone…I volunteered, I got to know people. Because I wanted…I knew for me coming into Seneca was a much easier process because I sort of had an idea of what to do. But I thought of my feelings going into university that first year and that lost feeling…and that made me want to do this. It made me want to go, Okay, let's help someone else not go through that. That feeling of isolation, that confusion of, What do I do now? Or what is this date? What are they talking about?–type of piece. So that was part of why I chose to do that.

 

Pat Perdue  09:57

And how many years have you been a mentor in the SMILE program?

 

Toni Pettit  10:02

So this will be my third term, I guess, being a mentor. So I did…I've done it once every year for the past couple of years.

 

Pat Perdue  10:11

And AJ, I'm sort of glancing over at you in being a mentee. What does that mean? Is it extra work? Is there a program that you go through? For those who might be listening, thinking, Oh, I would like to have somebody like Toni mentoring me. What might they expect?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  10:29

I would say, again, that it is a commitment to be in a mentoring program. It is pretty much your choice if you want to learn a lot of things. And I can't blame anyone else because everyone has their own personal lives and schedule out of school. And everything's just clashing. And it's hard to work out everything. But what I've learned from this mentoring program is that everything that we're doing, every meeting or activity is pretty much beneficial for me. And very informative, in a way. Because with this, I've learned a lot of stuff from Toni. Especially the stress management and organizational skills that are going to help me throughout the semester. And yeah, that's pretty much it.

 

Pat Perdue  11:18

And does it mean more work for you? Is it a formal program where you meet or connect in a regular way? Or is it more flexible, occasional check-ins? How does that part work?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  11:31

Well, the scheduling part is not that crazy for both of us. Because Toni is very organized, to be honest. She offers us a lot of options throughout the week. And we just pick schedules if we want to meet at that time. And yeah, it's very conversational between both of us. We just share experiences and things that is Seneca-involved. Like how to navigate Seneca and things like that. And we're just vibing every time. So I like that kind of experience.

 

Pat Perdue  12:10

Amazing. And Toni, hearing AJ describe the level of formality of the program, how does that connect with your experience in how you deliver the program? Is it like, Oh yeah that's exactly how I want to set it up? Or is it a little bit different? Or what's the level of connection there?

 

Toni Pettit  12:28

Well, this year, we have a new platform. So there has been a little bit of a change. But for me, it's been kind of the same in terms of how I approach it as a mentor. So there is a program that each week they have different topics that they want you to go through with your mentees. Depending on how I feel, I will highlight some more than others. I understand that coming into a program into school can be overwhelming as it is. So I don't necessarily force certain things. Sometimes I'm just, Here are things you need to be aware of. Here are some tips and tricks. And sometimes I'm like, I'd like you to respond to me with two ways you're doing X, Y, or Z. So usually, as Ar Jay has made note, a lot around stress management and time management. So how you organize yourself is key. So from my end, there's a far more structured piece in place, as a mentor. And there are more expectations on me than there are on the mentee–and that's how it should be. Because it allows…our structure allows us to be flexible. So it's our team. And I keep a really tight schedule for myself. So that there are lots of open times for my mentees to choose when they want to meet with me.

 

Pat Perdue  13:57

And you mentioned mentees. So in our conversation before our recording today, we talked about how many you have. Can you tell us again, how many mentees do you have? And how do you juggle all that?

 

Toni Pettit  14:10

So there are about 14 that I am working with. And I would say I engage regularly with about eight of them. The other six are more sort of just consumers of the information I give them which is perfectly fine. Just perfectly fine. And the others I've had a chance to talk with regularly over the past couple of months. So it's a little bit tricky. But again, what I do each week is I put out sort of like a Doodle poll with my availability. And then people can choose that and that time is set aside. So they know that if they choose Thursday at 9am they're going to get a link for Thursday at 9am. And they have my time for up to an hour to discuss whatever it is they need to discuss. So, AJ and I mostly just vibe. [laughter] We get through that conversation pretty quickly. And then we just hang out and chat about stuff, which is great. And for some people, it's a little bit more structured. They have certain things, questions they want answered, and we get through those, and then it's done. So it all depends on the mentee and what they're looking for.

 

Pat Perdue  15:25

That's amazing. And it sounds like you’re a fabulous mentor by the way you describe it and hearing AJ talk about it. And for those listening who are thinking, maybe they want to get involved in being a mentor. That would be a senior student, right? Who's thinking, Yeah, I've been through this, I know the ropes a little bit, just like you defined it. They'd like to share a little bit of their experience with somebody who's just getting started. But maybe they don't know the first thing about being a mentor. Is it intimidating? Or is there a specific program? How does that work?

 

Toni Pettit  15:58

Yeah, I don't think it's that intimidating. Because they have a really good structure. You have something to guide you along the path. And you get good training ahead of time as well. And you also are in a pod of other mentors with the lead mentors. So you have somebody you can go to for questions. Or you can put it in the general group chat and get feedback from other mentors. So it's not a lone-wolf-type of thing. We're always in a group together. And so that shouldn't be a worry. If you feel like you have something to offer but your only concern is, What if I'm not qualified? Then let us take care of that part for you. Because, honestly, you want people who…for me, I think, I would want people who are not doing this because it looks good on the resume. They're doing this because they want to help others. So if that's your mentality, then the Student Life Team is amazing in their training and getting you set up. And there's a great structure to work within as you mentor your mentees.

 

Pat Perdue  17:01

That's great. And did you know about that structure and all of that support group that you just talked about, was there when you got started? Or you just thought, Hey, I want to help people.

 

Toni Pettit  17:13

No. I just wanted to help people. I had no idea. I just went and I hunted them down and said, I want to be a SMILE mentor, let's get this started. And I had no idea what that would look like or what it would mean for me. But I was ready to do that.

 

Pat Perdue  17:30

And have you had a mentor in the past? And you're thinking, Boy, mentoring is a really good thing. Or was it all new to you?

 

Toni Pettit  17:40

So I've had mentors in the past, for a short period of time, for long periods of time. And I've taken some training on how to facilitate a mentor-mentee relationship. I think it's an important aspect to life in general. And I think everyone should have somebody who is there like a guiding light to…to how to attain their goals and dreams and to keep them on track and accountable to that. So this has more of an academic feel to it. And that's fine. But I also mentor outside of this and in other aspects as well. I think giving back, whether it's at your school, whether it's work, just in life, is important. So yeah.

 

Pat Perdue  18:30

And AJ is it possible for you to imagine life without a mentor at Seneca? I'm trying to think of if there was some parallel universe where you didn't get involved with the SMILE program, and Toni wasn't in your life. And you were just sort of figuring out stuff as you went along. What would be different?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  18:49

I would say it's gonna be a lonely process throughout the semester. Because everything is online right now. And everything that we do is really lonely, to be honest. I kind of want to have a conversation with someone. And so that's why mentoring is a really therapeutic meeting to me too. Because I can vibe with someone and I can just talk about Seneca in general, and things that are involved with student life. And yeah, I just like the conversational feel with that. It pretty much manages my stress a lot. So that's mentoring for me.

 

Pat Perdue  19:29

It sounds so chill. [laughter] It sounds like sometimes, maybe when people envision what it might be like to get a mentor, there might be a perception that it's more work. Or just another person looking over my shoulder. Or breathing down my neck to get things done. And I don't want the extra stress. How would you respond to somebody who says that AJ?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  19:56

Well I'm currently in the STEM program. So it's already kind of stressful for me but I'm still surviving and so I have mentoring right now. And I just like the mentoring because it navigates me around Seneca. And as a first year student, I think that's an integral part in our growth. Because we should be learning a lot of things while we are doing schoolwork. And we only don't have this focus on a lot of the schoolwork that we're doing. Because we have to learn a lot of things too. Especially from someone else. We can’t just absorb a lot of information from our lectures because that's kind of a sad thing, to be honest.

 

Pat Perdue  20:39

Yeah and how Seneca, or any post secondary education experience, but in this case Seneca, is more than what happens in the classroom, right? It's more than the material that we’re given to study. Does that make sense? And I'm seeing Toni nod emphatically. Have I touched a nerve? My experience, I'll share with you a little bit about my experience, I was at York University. And my first year was like you described Toni, in your first year. Where I was…in fact, my whole experience there was like that [laughter], to be honest with you. So Toni, your sense of what Seneca or post secondary experience offers outside of, or in addition to, what happens in the classroom? What's your sense of that?

 

Toni Pettit  21:26

Well there's two parts to it really. And I think it's a shared responsibility between student and institution. But I think Seneca makes it really easy to not be isolated. I don't know how to explain it…like I just walked in and I was like, I want to be a part of stuff. And the opportunities were there. I didn't have to go digging for things. I didn't have to go far looking. Everybody I met, every department I volunteered or worked for, everybody was so nice. I don't say that lightly. I judge people pretty quickly saying, I don't like this person. And that's until you prove me otherwise, you're on the bad list kind of a thing. And everybody I met was so nice, so helpful. I felt comfortable going to the Student Life people and saying, Can I chat with you about something? Because I'm concerned and I don't know what choice to make. And they're just, Yeah, sit down, let's chat. I felt like the doors were always open. And I think getting involved was very easy to do. And I knew that I wanted to not be isolated like I was. But again, like all the events that run, there are so many events that go on. Small ones, big ones. And so you can come to Seneca, and you can go to class, you can leave, and that can be your whole experience. But you can also glance to your left, and if you see something happening, go join it. It's so easy to do. And I think that additional experience…I think is what makes up the Seneca experience. It's not just that we have good academics and good KPIs. It's a community that I think is quite vibrant and diverse. And I think it gives you a great experience.

 

Pat Perdue  23:38

Amazing. And, AJ, you're into your first semester. You've got future semesters in your future [laughter]–that sounded weird. But when you cast your mind a year from now, or six months from now, or maybe a year and a half from now, do you see yourself continuing in a mentor relationship? Or how do you see your future when you think about it a little bit? Your near future?

 

Ar Jay Mateo  24:07

To be honest, I'm really…it's kind of a bleak gray area right now for me. Because it's really hard to plan everything. But I think continuing mentoring after six months is the most ideal thing that I would do. Because I want to learn more about my personal development, to be honest. Because, outside from the academics, there's also a career that is involved with it. And I want to get involved and ask a lot of things with my mentor. So yes. 

 

Pat Perdue  24:36

Nice. And Toni, I guess I'll ask you the same question but in a different…through a bit of a different lens. When you look at your…you're a student now and when are you expecting to graduate?

 

Toni Pettit  24:51

That's a tricky question [laughter]. So we're going to graduate from this program in 2023. And pretty certain I'll be going into the community mental health degree, which is an additional two years. So I have anywhere from a year and a half to three and a half years ahead of me.

 

Pat Perdue  25:19

Okay. And I'm kind of happy about that because it means you have a year and a half to three years of potential mentoring, and sharing your knowledge and your desire to help with so many other people. I was kind of hoping not to hear, Oh I'm graduating this semester. Because that would be a little heartbreaking. So do you see mentoring as something that you would continue to do throughout the life of your time here at Seneca or–yeah, yeah, I see there's no thought about that–yeah? Can you expand on that a little bit? It's extra work for you and it's not like you're not busy? So?

 

Toni Pettit  26:00

I am quite busy, yes. But no, I think it's an important program. My first mentee that I had is probably also the reason why I continued to do it as well. She needed me and I was able to help. To give her tangible pieces that helped her. I don't know how to explain that feeling of helping somebody and watching them go, Oh, okay. Yes. Yes this is exactly it. And getting to be an observer in their life and their transition and watching them grow and make friends. And it was very, very cool to sort of…like in the beginning she's like, I don't know anybody in my program. And she was feeling kind of lonely. And just encouraging her. And then one day, just bumping into her and her group of friends. And just a smile on her face. And I got to be a part of that. Because I was a SMILE mentor, right? So maybe I could have been a part of it just as a random person who she met. But because there was a little bit more structure to our relationship, I was able to really see that. And know that I got to be a part of that as well. So I can't imagine going, Okay, that was enough of that [laughter]. No more of those feelings. Let's move on to something else [laughter]. So yeah, I enjoy that. And I also hope that in the groups of people that I mentor, that there will be those who do the same. Who will go forward and become mentors in their senior years and provide that same level of assistance and guidance to new students.

 

Pat Perdue  27:51

Well, I can't think of a better spot to end our conversation. Even though I'm kind of sad to end it because it's so positive. And it's so excellent. So Toni and AJ, thanks so much for your time on the Seneca Proud podcast. It has been an absolute pleasure meeting you and getting to hear about your mentor-mentee experience.

 

Toni Pettit  28:13

Thank you for having us.

 

Ar Jay Mateo

Thank you.

 

Pat Perdue  28:14

Thanks. Okay. Well have a great day. Bye. Don't go away yet, though [laughter]. Click. Yikes. And they're gone. So this is great. Thank you. 

And that was my conversation with Ar Jay Mateo and Toni Pettit. Kind of amazing, right? This right here is a big part of what makes Seneca College such a great place. I'm really grateful for Toni and Ar Jay to agree to join the pod. Of course, I'll leave information about the SMILE program in the show notes. If you want to know more about it, and maybe get involved either as a mentor or as a mentee, definitely check it out. And thank you for listening to today's show. This will be the last episode of 2021. For those who observe, I wish you a Happy Kwanzaa. And also for those who observe, I wish you a Merry Christmas. Regardless of what this time of year means to you, it's always the right time of year to take care of yourself. And maybe reach out to someone and let them know you care. And I'll see you in 2022. I'm Pat Perdue. Stay proud Seneca.