Learning through trust, care and academic success
When I first began...
My Master of Digital Media at TMU, I had no idea that Fingerprints would become an organization that would one day support students in elementary school and university. Throughout my life, I had envisioned myself working to help others, but I was unsure of what avenue I would take to accomplish this desire.
During my elementary and high school years, I found it challenging to learn with conventional learning methods. Fortunately, I was able to work with a mentor that patiently took the time to understand my learning styles while forming a trusting relationship and bond. During my Masters program, I realized that I might not have been the only one who felt like this. I did research to validate this in my MRP (major research project). Launching Fingerprints (external link) gave me the opportunity to combine my longing to help others with my background in design and digital media.
The idea for Fingerprints initially started out as an after-school program, but I quickly realized that not everyone had the resources to attend such a program. I wanted to create a platform that was more accessible, so I created a digital platform that provided a safe space for students to learn in their own unique learning styles. The Fingerprints At Home Virtual Experience pairs elementary and high school students in Toronto and Montreal with academic mentors in education-based university programs in Ontario. Once a mentor and mentee are paired, the mentor is provided with the resources and tools required to support the mentee’s learning needs. Having this done virtually allowed for more flexibility and afforded our mentees and mentors to meet from their homes.
As Fingerprints continued to grow, we began to host workshops and educational webinars to better equip our mentors with the coaching skills they needed to be more effective with their mentees. As time progressed, it was clear that Fingerprints was evolving into much more than academic mentorship for our mentees but also a program that equipped future educators with the experience and knowledge that they could apply to their careers and future educational endeavors. The Fingerprints approach to learning is based on trust, care and academic success and that is fostered through building strong relationships.
“Oak trees take a long time to grow, but they’re strong and last forever.” Whenever I begin to doubt my progress or wish for a faster outcome, I remind myself that my goal is to ensure that Fingerprints is an organization that makes lasting change.
Since graduating...
I experienced many lessons that refined me as an entrepreneur. I have had the pleasure of being a member of the Social Ventures Zone since 2018, and through these last four years, I have been afforded many invaluable experiences. I applied for the Social Ventures Zone after hearing about it from a past MDM graduate. This alumni also had an MRP-turned-startup and he spoke very highly of the Zone and their dedication to supporting ventures with social impact at the core. The more I immersed myself in the many startup networking opportunities that TMU had to offer through Zone Learning, the more I felt that I needed to be in the same room as the people behind those projects. Entrepreneurship can be lonely at times, but through the Zone, I have been surrounded by a supportive community of like-minded entrepreneurs that have celebrated my success and challenged my ideas. Currently, Fingerprints is working with the fourth year students in the Child and Youth Care and Liberal Arts Studies programs at TMU. This opportunity would not have been possible without the members of the Social Venture Zone.
The biggest challenge I faced was…
Learning not to compare my journey to others. I began to notice that each time I was faced with a new milestone I would look to my peers to compare my progress. Unfortunately, the constant comparison would steal my joy and I would quickly move on to my next goal without savoring the moment of my accomplishment. To combat this feeling, I reflect on a piece of advice shared with me by a dear friend: “oak trees take a long time to grow, but they’re strong and last forever.” Whenever I begin to doubt my progress or wish for a faster outcome, I remind myself that my goal is to ensure that Fingerprints is an organization that makes lasting change in the lives of learners and influences generations of teachers to come. An endeavor such as this takes time to grow and flourish, but its effects will be lasting.
One piece of advice I would give to aspiring entrepreneurs would be…
To understand the importance of community. I have had many opportunities cross my path in the last few years because of the relationships and connections I made through Zone Learning, and these have impacted Fingerprints for the better.
Connect with Angelique Paul on LinkedIn (external link) or Instagram (external link)
