Last summer, I joined the IMPRESS Indigenous mentorship program as a mentor. This year, I signed up again. I didn’t have many opportunities for mentorship as a student, so I really value this opportunity to provide support to other students. Representation is important, especially in academic circles. It’s important for students to build their professional network and have safe spaces to ask questions, share frustrations, and navigate challenges. I also learn so much from the students I work with, it’s really an exchange of knowledge and experience.

The IMPRESS program runs through June & July each year, with some internships extending into August. It is a paid internship for Indigenous students who are assigned a team to work on a research project with and a mentor to guide them along the way. If you are an Indigenous student looking for summer opportunities, I highly recommend the program: https://www.mcgill.ca/branches/programs/impress#:~:text=The%20Indigenous%20Mentorship%20and%20Paid,one%20of%20our%20units%20%E2%80%94%20all