I SSUE 8 2014 SPRI NG

Thankyouforanothersuccessfulyear!
DearCareerMentors,

Thankyouforcontributingtoanothersuccessfulsessionforthe
CareerMentorProgram(CMP)!Aftersuchalongwinter,we
areveryhappytobestartingourspringandsummerbreak.The
CMPwillresumeinSeptember2014.The 2013/14yearwasa
busyoneatCareerServicesandtheUniversityofManitoba.The
campusisnowhometoanewfootballstadiumandmany
newconstructionprojectsareunderway.InMarchthe
CareerMentorProgram,aspartofCareerServices,welcomeda
newdirector,GailLanglais.Gailbringstohernewroleover20years
experienceinthefieldofcareerdevelopmentworkingwithabroad
rangeofclientgroups.Shesheldpositionswiththeprovincial
governmentandvarioussocialservicesagencies.Withthecreationof
thisposition,CareerServiceswillincreasepartnershipsandbroadenoursupporttostudentstomaximize
theiracademicexperienceandconnectionstomeaningfulworklifeexperiences.

Thispastyear,theCMPassistedmorethan250students.Themostexploredoccupationswere:Occupational
Therapist,RespiratoryTherapist,PhysicianandPsychologist.Theprogramalsowelcomed67newmentor
participantsinHealthCare,SocialServices,BusinessandtheEnvironmentalSector.Inadditiontoyour
amazingsupport,theprogramcouldnothavesucceededthisyearwithoutCMPAssistant/student
coordinator,KhrystynaLazar.KhrystynaiscompletingaB.A.inPsychologyattheUniversityofManitoba;she
joinedtheCareerServicesteaminSeptember.Herfriendlydispositionandformer
programparticipationmadeherawonderfulassettotheprogramandahelpfulguideforstudents.

Morethananything,wewanttothankyouforyourcontributionsandletyou
knowhowmuchwevalueyourparticipation.Thankyouforsharingyourtime,
expertiseandpersonalexperienceswithstudents.
Theimpactyouvemadeisimmeasurable!
A BUSY YEAR - 2013/14
HIGHLIGHTS . . . 1
MEET A FELLOW MENTOR:
MAUREEN PENKO, SPEECH
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
. . . 2
PROGRAM
FEEDBACK -
STUDENTS
SAID . . . 2
Have a wonderful summer!
Career Mentor
focus
A PUBLICATION OF CAREER SERVICES @ THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
Career Mentor Program
474 University Centre
University of Manitoba
Contact:
Lisa MacPherson
Program Coordinator
Phone: (204) 474-8667
E-mail: cmp@ad.umanitoba.ca
Career Mentor Spotlight
MaureenPenko,SpeechLanguagePathologist,PembinaTrailsSchoolDivision
Mentor Moments
Students reviews:

Ijustwanttothankyouforthis
awesomeopportunitytofind
outifwhatwewantiswhatwe
want.Ifeellikethisservicewill
helpsomanystudentsmake
betterdegreechoices...thisis
justsuchagreatservice!

Thematchingwasappropriate
andwentbeyondmy
expectations.Ididn'texpectmy
mentortohavethesamedegree
thatIamworkingtowards.

Whatinfluencedmemostwas
thatshereallylovesherjoband
feelslikeshemakesadifference
everyday.

Itwasveryhelpful,becauseit
gavemeabettersenseofwhat
thejobisactuallylike.

Themosthelpfulaspectforme
wastheadvicenottolose
ambitiondespitethe
competitiveadmissions.

Mymentorwasveryhelpfulin
answeringmyquestionsaswell
asprovidingmewith
informationIwasunawareof.

MentorComment:

Ithinkthatthisisthemost
worthwhileundertaking,asit
providesstudentswithaninsight
intoacareerthattheyare
contemplatingbysomeonewho
hasreallifeexperienceinthat
vocation.Therearealwaysaspects
ofajobthatarenotevidentuntil
youareactuallyintheposition
thingsthatmayimpactyourability
toperformi.e.tighttimelines,
longhours,travel,public/political/
mediapressureetc.Byspeakingto
someonewhohasexperiencedthe
jobasawhole,thestudentcan
gainamorebalancedperspective,
whichwill(hopefully)aidthemin
selectingtherightcareerchoice.
MaureenPenkohasbeenaUofMCareerMentorsince1995,assistingstudentsin
theirdiscoveryofSpeechLanguagePathology(SLP)andintheirpursuitofsuccess
intheprofession.Shecontinuestomeetwithstudentseachyearandenjoysthe
opportunitytoprovideameaningfulconnection.

DuringMaureensexperienceasauniversitystudent,shelovedlanguage,
psychologyandsciences.ShefellintotheSLPoccupationandhaslovedit
everysingleminute.Throughouthercareershesalwaysfeltlikeshehasmadeadifference.Forthepast9
years,MaureenhasworkedwiththePembinaTrailsSchoolDivision,andpriortothatprovided20yearsof
serviceattheWinnipegHealthSciencesCentre.Inthesesettings,aswellasinherprivatepractice,sheloves
thediversityandcreativityofthishelpingprofession.AsanSLP,shehelpsindividualsopendoorsfor
themselves:Ifyoudonothavethepowerofcommunication,itinfluencesyoureverydaybeing,career,
sociallifeandyourabilitytolearncouldbeimpeded.Highlightingthefullscopeoftheprofessionisalsoa
partofhermentorshiptostudents,SLPsdealwithassessment,preventionandintervention,ofavarietyof
speechandlanguageimpairmentsfrompreschoolerstogeriatrics.Wecanworkinavarietyofsettingsand
areanintegralpartofamedical,educationalorresearchteam.

Aleaderinherfield,MaureenreceivedtheEveKassirerAwardforOutstandingProfessionalAchievement
lastyearfromtheCanadianAssociationofSpeechLanguagePathologistsandAudiologists.