b'STUDENT TRANSITIONSAs a Mentor is that young people can see someone who looks I had the opportunity to work as an Outreach Mentorlike them and think to themselves, I can do that with an Indigenous organization that did academictoo. I want young people to have the confidence to outreach to youth in high schools. During my timesucceed without doubting themselves.there, I truly enjoyed and looked forward to my work.It is important for young people to have mentors I was able to connect with Indigenous youth from remote communities through online mentoring, devel- because it helps to instil the belief that they can oping activities for youth to participate in, tutoring, andachieve what they set out to do. Mentors can serve discussing their overall aspirations and goals.as role models and advocates. They can bring about positive change for youth directly and indirectly. As a young Indigenous person growing up in a rural community, it was difficult not having positive roleAs a mentor, Im more than happy to talk to youth models or someone to look up tosomeone whoabout their pathways and how to find opportuni-looked like me. I often felt uncomfortable in spacesties or alternative routes. I learned through my that werent built for people like me in mind. Evenexperiences how to guide people and give them as I completed high school and went on to college, Ithe tools needed to succeed. It has taught me to be felt uncertain and not smart enough to attend post- understanding of the unique journeys that people secondary education. As I near the completion of mygo through, to seek out more, and to grow stronger degree, however, Im seeing more Indigenous folksconnections with people on similar paths. Being with their degrees at higher educational levels. Seeinga mentor pushes me to learn more and challenge people with these big accomplishments is truly inspi- myself every day.rational. Having positive role models and mentors has helped me to picture myself in places and feel certainBeing a mentor is a very rewarding experience and about my destination. its a course that anyone from any walk of life can My experiences pushed me to work as an outreachparticipate in. Mentorship is a learning journey for mentor for Indigenous youth. My hope as a mentornot only the mentee, but for the mentor too. Based on the principlesof miyo whkhtowin(good relationships),Saskatchewan Polytechnic strives to provide a place of belonging where all students can feel welcomed, inspired,and empowered.saskpolytech.ca/Indigenous 52indspiration2022'