MyMentor

«The mentorship experience was for me an opportunity for professional guidance, essentially based on a relationship of collaboration and direct interaction, from which I was able to learn the importance of the skills necessary to engage with the job market. In addition to being professionally useful, this journey was a potential networking tool, through which I had the opportunity to connect with environments outside the university context, thus broadening my overall perspective of future prospects and opportunities. Based on my experience, I consider the MyMentor project a chance for growth, especially personal growth, through which I gained greater awareness of my ambitions and future goals.»

«MyMentor was an incredible experience. Meeting my mentor at a crucial stage of my life (the end of my master’s degree and subsequent entry into the job market) felt like a blessing. The many doubts and the advice I needed were answered. My hope for future mentees is that they seize this opportunity.»

«The right person at the right time. Advice on how to enter and grow in the job market. A mutual promise to stay in touch.»

«Aware of the typical sense of confusion experienced by a young student in the final year of a master's degree, the support of my mentor proved to be crucial in fostering and guiding my personal growth journey. Even though our meetings were not frequent, the moments of interaction, in addition to providing the right dose of motivation that allowed me to successfully complete my studies, were essential in helping me concretely understand the differences between the academic world and the professional world.»

«The Mentorship program is one of the excellences of the università Cattolica, which should be replicated in all universities and owes its success to Professors Franca Cantoni and Elena Zuffada. For me, it was a remarkable opportunity for growth and dialogue. In my Mentor, the entrepreneur Fabrizio Capocasale, I found experience and availability, as well as sincere opinions that helped me a lot. I participated in the program during the second year of my master’s, but if I could go back, I would join from the first year.»

«I remember the excitement of the moment and the joy of meeting a professional in my field. Dr. Avella immediately came across as friendly, kind, and approachable. One day, I asked him how his work had grown over the years, and I received a simple but true answer: he told me, "Exponentially with my desire to achieve!" Then he added, "I’m like a traveler, who after visiting Paris can’t wait to discover London, and then Singapore, and eventually the rest of the world. Curiosity and passion for learning are the secret to success in any profession." In those words, I found the answer to all my questions and the drive to never stop learning.»

«"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn" [B. Franklin]. This is the true essence of the MyMentor project!.»

«MyMentor promotes the connection between University and Work, encouraging Mentors to reflect on the 'social' role a modern manager should have, serving not only as an operational guide but also in fostering an approach to work as a source of dignity and as a way for individuals to take charge of their own human and professional growth. This is reflected in the demonstration of seriousness, responsibility, and even joy in facing daily challenges. Therefore, in my opinion, Mentors should always keep in mind their dual professional and educational role towards the new generations. The MyMentor experience helps us adopt this approach even with our collaborators.»

«MyMentor is definitely a motivating and rejuvenating experience. The relationship with bright young individuals, but above all with those who are curious, always provides inspiration and food for thought, even in the professional lives of Mentors. This, along with the gratifying hope of having supported a young manager, led me to join the program.»

«The interaction with the Mentor should be used as a simulator to project the Mentee toward their future work activity. My experience is that candidates are often very hesitant at first to step out of their comfort zones, and the Mentor's role is to try to put them in the right position to express themselves at their best. In this process, it is important for the Mentee to understand which sector to focus their efforts on when searching for a position, to value their existing experiences, and to prepare for the next phase of their career. A good Mentee-Mentor relationship is likely to endure beyond the program.»

«I became involved in the MyMentor project thanks to the enthusiasm of Prof. Chizzoniti, whom I thank for involving me in what I consider an important project, a great opportunity for both discussion and evaluation of personal and professional choices. Above all, I see the project as a way to contribute to the development of civil society. Stepping out of my comfort zone, engaging in open dialogue with young people, and confronting their anxieties and fears are important values. These are the reasons that convinced me to confirm my participation in the MyMentor project. Despite the challenges posed by pandemic-related restrictions, I structured the mentorship with foundational activities (self-introductions, readings, invitations to conferences, etc.) always oriented towards discussion and critical reflection.»

«The opportunity that MyMentor has given me to remain an active part of the "legacy" of students at the Università Cattolica is a source of pride for me. I have always had a strong connection to the university environment. In fact, I spent wonderful years at UCSC, and besides studying, I met friends with whom I have shared much of my life. I felt it was my duty to give back something, and the MyMentor project provided me with this opportunity. I tried to understand the main needs and curiosities of the various Mentees, and based on this, I aimed to offer my skills to help them. I sought to convey to them a fundamental concept for me: "Identify what you are passionate about and invest all your efforts to become an expert in that field." Often, I meet students who, despite being in their final years of university, still do not have a clear idea of what they want to do in the job market. The advice I feel compelled to give is to choose a path and, if necessary, change direction later, but to make a decision and follow it with determination.»

«Being a mentor to a student is a challenge. From the very first meetings, you are faced with countless questions (some explicit and many unspoken), and attempting to respond or guide inquiries and expectations is an engaging and stimulating challenge. I have always tried to help the mentee by providing points for reflection rather than precise answers, asking further questions, allowing time for contemplation on what has been discussed, sharing past experiences, or offering simple methods and evaluation tools. I consider the MyMentor project a beautiful initiative with high potential and significant ethical and value-driven content... and I am ready for the next challenges the project will present to me.»