Pick Your Path, a McGill mentorship program that pairs Black CEGEP students with Black McGill students and alumni, is welcoming its fifth cohort of students.
Twenty-five participants will soon be paired with a McGill mentor, attend workshops to help them select an educational path and participate in job shadowing. All are encouraged – but not required – to considering applying to McGill.
“Students are really choosing their university where they feel like they can thrive and belong,” said Camille Georges, Black Community Outreach Advisor at Enrolment Services. “Pick Your Path is a beautiful opportunity for the University to connect with local Black communities and allow Black students to see themselves at McGill.”
Overseen by the Branches program, Pick Your Path was inspired by McGill’s Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism, which outlines the University’s commitment to address anti-Black racism and promote greater inclusiveness.
It aims to create McGill campuses that better reflect Montreal’s demographic diversity; action items include connecting with local Black communities and developing strategies to enhance Black students’ access to McGill.
“It not only guides you on your educational journey but also connects you to a community that genuinely cares about your success,” said Karimata Barry, a former mentee now in her second year of McGill’s Bachelor of Science in Architecture program. “It’s an experience that leaves you better prepared, supported and inspired.”
On the path to success
Pick Your Path receives applications from throughout the Montreal area, and administrators select students they feel will benefit most; included among them are future doctors, lawyers and investment bankers. Some students who enter the program are still weighing their options, while others want to dive deep into their intended field of study.
“Architecture was my No. 1 choice, but Pick Your Path gave me a clearer picture of the different paths within architecture and the various ways to reach that goal,” recalled Barry. “It gave me the tools to prepare for university.”
Students receive guidance from mentors like Anikka Swaby, a McGill MD/PhD candidate.
“Mentoring has been a rewarding experience as it allowed me to share my own path while also learning from my mentees’ unique perspectives,” said Swaby. “The highlight has been seeing my mentees gain confidence in their goals over the course of the program and supporting them in that process.”
Students’ parents and guardians also have a role to play: They’re invited to workshops to discuss such topics as admission requirements and financial planning, and to network with fellow parents.
“We wanted to get them involved because higher education is not only a transition for students – it’s a transition for their parents as well,” said Georges. “It was important to us to support the people who support our people.”
Marking a milestone
All past and present participants will be invited to attend Pick Your Path’s fifth-anniversary gala event Oct. 16.
“The success of the program is a testament to the strength of the community we’ve built over the past five years,” said Veronica Amberg, Associate Director, Partnerships & Access, at Branches. “It simply wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our mentees, mentors, staff and parents, and I hope the program continues to grow.”
Georges has seen the progress the program has made in creating a sense of support and belonging for Black students on McGill campus, and that’s what she’s most proud of.
“It makes me feel super successful when I hear them say, ‘I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I gained clarity and I felt supported’,” said Georges. “Still, most of our students are brilliant – they’ll get there anyway.”