Farina Mahrin wins inaugural Co-op Connect Mentor of the Year Award

Congratulations to Ted Rogers School of Management Finance student Farina Mahrin for receiving the first-ever Co-op Connect Mentor of the Year Award.

The Co-op Connect Peer Mentorship Program offers peer-to-peer support for students in the Ted Rogers Co-op program, run by the Business Career Hub (BCH). Once admitted into the Co-op program, students are matched with a Peer Mentor, who is a senior Co-op student. The Mentorship Program is funded through a contribution to Ryerson for mentorship by BMO Financial Group.

Mentors guide new Co-op students (mentees) through the job search process and provide support in any way they can. They receive training from the Ted Rogers Leadership Centre (TRLC) to ensure they can support their mentees effectively. Mentees are also provided training by the TRLC on how to be good mentees and get the most value out of the mentorship relationship.

“The Co-op Connect Mentor of the Year Award was created to acknowledge the hard work of our senior Co-op students who have dedicated time and effort into supporting other students,” says Medhat Sedarose, Manager, Ted Rogers Co-operative Education. “Ted Rogers Co-op students are part of a fantastic community where they support each other and help each other achieve their goals.” 

To be eligible for the Co-op Connect Mentor of the Year Award, Mentors needed to have a direct impact on one of their mentees securing a Co-op role, been nominated by multiple mentees, helped to foster a sense of community for their mentees within the Co-op program and hosted at least 20 or more interactions with their mentees.

“Farina exemplified what we look for in a Co-op Connect Mentor because she spent the time working with her mentees, helping them build their confidence and supporting them,” says Sedarose. “She was nominated as Mentor of the Year by several of her mentees and directly helped at least one of her mentees secure their first Co-op role this year." 

One of Mahrin’s mentees said that she helped them practice for their first Co-op interview by setting up a mock interview, providing them with feedback and helping them feel confident. “The next day I went into the interview confident and answered the questions to the best of my ability using the tips and feedback that Farina had provided with me the previous day,” Mahrin’s mentee explains. “I was beyond excited to hear the following week that I had secured a Co-op position with the company. I couldn't have done so well without Farina's help. I am incredibly grateful to have a Mentor like her.”

Mahrin, who has completed two Co-op work terms (one as an Instructional Consulting Intern at Ted Rogers School’s Office of the Dean the other as a Commercial Mortgage Underwriting Co-op student for Equitable Bank), is glad she was able to provide help to her mentees when they needed it.

“I, myself, had a very nice Mentor who gave me advice on resumes and cover letters. So, when it was my turn to be a Mentor, I wanted to be the Mentor I needed back then,” she explains. “This meant reaching out to my mentees and building trusting and comfortable friendships. I wanted to make sure they were not hesitant to reach out. I scheduled weekly meetings the first few months.”

“Surely enough, my mentees felt comfortable enough to reach out when they needed help,” Mahrin says. “I have helped them edit their resumes and facilitated mock interviews. We had long conversations where I made sure to tell them how great they were doing. I think it is good to point out their successes and not just focus on what they have yet to achieve.”

Mahrin is thankful to her mentees for nominating her for the Co-op Connect Mentor of the Year Award and honoured to be recognized for her efforts. “It shows that when you work hard to do well, it always results in better things,” she points out. “This is also encouraging for me as a Mentor to try and do even better next year. I am grateful to the BCH and the Tri-mentoring program for thinking me to be worthy of the Peer Mentor award, especially in its inaugural year. This will definitely inspire new Mentors in the next session to do their best.”