Our Mentors

Our 2016-17 Mentors!

Adam

Hi there, my name is Adam. I am a second year student at Carleton, in the Bachelor of Social Work program. I was an Enriched Support Program student last year and am very fortunate to have been a part of the ESP. There are plenty of unique resources and supports available to students in the ESP, all of which will help you succeed in your academic career. I highly recommend that you take advantage of all the resources and supports available to you as an ESP student.

If I had one piece of advice to give to ESP students it would be to attend class (and workshops). You’ll find that the professors often reward students who attend their class by giving them tips and hints about midterms, exams, and papers. I really believe that having a strong attendance in class and workshops will give students the best chance to succeed, and is the main reason I was successful in the ESP.

I look forward to meeting many of you this year and wish you all the best in your studies, oh and Go Ravens Go!

Angel

Wah-Chi-Aye (Humble Salutations), welcome to the ESP/AESP program! My name is Angel and I am an undergraduate at Carleton University, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Indigenous Studies.

I am from a small northern Oji-Cree community called Constance Lake First Nation, so my involvement and experiences with transition is something that the ESP/AESP has definitely supported.

The ESP program makes this post-secondary opportunity worthwhile! The staff and faculty do their best to meet your academic accommodations while empowering you with the preparation skills to make your academic goals directed and achievable.

What education means to me is being able to adapt to your surroundings, being able to maneuver and balance your thoughts, and to organize your personal capabilities and strengthen your confidence to achieve your educational aspirations. As a student who has been through the AESP program, I can say this is exactly what the ESP/AESP offers!

My goal as a mentor is to respect and help you enter into post-secondary education by providing you with honest feedback and resources to help you adjust to the academic process. I hope to work collaboratively with you and other students in a holistic classroom setting for learning purposes with formal academic understandings. I hope to make your transition more positive and guide you in the direction which will strengthen your academic background.

It is great to meet all of you and I am very excited to get things rolling! Meegwetch (with sincere gratitude).

Angie

My name is Angie and I am a second year university student in the psychology program. I enjoy reading, painting, and binge watching TV shows. I didn’t have the grades or the proper classes I needed from high school to get into university. That is why I applied to ESP/AESP. For me this program was a second chance at a better future. I applied and started university right out of high school. ESP has helped me further myself not only academically but also personally. It gave me the chance to create new goals for myself and the power to go after those goals. It also gave me the confidence I needed to believe that I could thrive in a post-secondary education. Going into my second year of post-secondary education, ESP continues to provide great opportunities, like getting to be a mentor for current ESP students. I look forward to lending a helping hand any way I can with new or returning students. I can certainly understand how intimidating taking a step like this could be, whether it’s being in a new surrounding with all new people and experiences, or facing assignments and huge classes.

Ben

My name is Ben, I was born in Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick, but I have lived in several different places across Canada and even in Europe for a little bit. I absolutely love to travel, I have been to many countries but would love to see many more. You will soon find out, if you haven’t already, that we all share something in common, we in the ESP family all met hardships in high-school that denied us the possibility of gaining admittance into a regular program in our first years at Carleton. This is where ESP came in, it allowed us to go to University and get a second chance at the whole academic side of things, and I am incredibly grateful for it. I didn’t put in my full effort in high-school, I was content to just drift along and get the grades that came to me, and obviously that doesn’t work. The ESP, however, has taught me how to work hard without necessarily stressing as much, and to achieve those good grades that we all look for. I now study Psychology in my second year and actually look forward to learning more in this field.

Bianca

Hey! My name is Bianca; I am a second year Carleton student studying Human Rights and Law for a combined honors. It took me many years after high school to find my academic path; after many years of college and online courses I decided that university would be my best option and ESP/AESP helped me get there!

I’m excited to help mentor students that were in similar positions as me, and provide any guidance or advice I can in order to help them succeed! I’m also looking forward to meeting new people and learning about their academic pathways and what goals they’re hoping to achieve.

When I’m not being a student or working, I spend most of my time on the soccer field, attempting Pinterest DIYs and walking my dog Leonard!

Looking forward to meeting everyone and making memories.

Carter

Hello everyone! My name is Carter and I am currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Psychology program. I imagine a lot of you have similar stories to myself. I had just finished high school and I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I loved psychology but I had not taken the proper courses in high school to be enrolled into a university. That’s when I discovered ESP.

ESP has been a valuable asset to not only my school work but also personally as well. Everyone who is a part of ESP only has your best interest at heart and will do all they can to see you succeed. From out of class help, to just navigating your way through the first year of university, these people are here for you. Some aspects of university may be more difficult than others, but with the right amount of effort put in you are sure to go above and beyond even your expectations!

With all that said I hope that ESP can truly be an enriching experience for all of you and I look forward to getting to know and work with all of you throughout the year. I wish the best in all your endeavors here at Carleton and I’m glad you can join us!

Chantal

Hello everyone, my name is Chantal. I am a 19 year old student from Ottawa. My parents were both born in Vietnam and came over to Canada when they were little. Hence my Vietnamese background. I am an October baby. Yes, I am a Libra. We can be defined as very serious and pretty sassy people, we can also be known for sense of humor and how outgoing we can be. That’s me. I am a very outgoing person and very easy to talk to.

My dream when I grow up is to travel the world. Nothing makes me happier than traveling. Every summer my family and I plan a trip to go somewhere. Most of the time it would be going to the south. We have been to multiple places in the south, such as Puta Cana, Bahamas, Mexico and Cuba. However, my travels are being put on hold at the moment because of my studies.

This year at Carleton University I am doing a major in Sociology and a minor in Law. I am as well working part time at American Eagle and working as a mentor. I look forward to helping each one of you as needed to fulfill your potential.

Cody

Hey, I’m Cody. I am a second-year student at Carleton studying Cognitive Science, in the neuroscience stream. I plan to study consciousness, perceptual processes and cognitive processes related to how people reach their potential.

I graduated high school in 2012, and took some time off before I tried college. I quickly decided that it wasn’t for me and that I wanted to do something in university. Unfortunately, I did not have the grades or credits to get into university. Luckily a friend of mine knew about ESP and suggested I apply. Coming into ESP I was concerned with my academic abilities as it had been several years since I had done any real schooling, but thanks to the people and resources in ESP, specifically coaching and my workshops, I was able to quickly sharpen my skills and apply myself to succeed in a way I never thought was possible.

I hope to be able to help and encourage many of you through your year in ESP and for your future as a student. Feel free to ask me questions related to anything around school, ESP, cognitive science or whatever else you might need help with.

Dave

Hi, everyone! My name is Dave. I am currently majoring in computer science at Carleton.

I got into ESP because during high school my grades were not good enough to make it into the program that I wanted at a university. The only option was applying to ESP. At first, I thought that I would only be able to obtain a C + average. But with the help of prayer and people like Natalie, Sam, Kurt, Marie-Eve and many others in the ESP staff, I was able to achieve beyond my expectations. I was never the smartest student but through hard work and sheer will power anything is possible.

I love meeting new people, and ESP is the perfect way to get to know people around the university. So if you see me around don’t be afraid to introduce yourself.

Denzell

Hello my name is Denzell! I am first year mentor and second year student at Carleton University majoring in Law. Throughout high school my grades were pretty good but as I entered grade twelve I noticed that my grades and my performance started to decrease, which resulted in me being unable to be admitted to Carleton University. Luckily I was informed about the ESP program and was able to attend Carleton as an ESP student. The ESP program is a great way to transition into University without being as overwhelmed, and it is because of the resources that are available through ESP to aid students in their academics, such as the workshops and the academic coaches. By attending the workshops and using the various resources I was able to be admitted into Carleton University Bachelor of Law. I look forward to helping all of you achieve your goals through the ESP program. Have a great year.

Erin

Hello! My name is Erin and I am a second year student here at Carleton taking Linguistics and Psychology. I know from experience that the many challenges with which first year university students are faced can be extremely discouraging. My time in ESP has given me an entirely new outlook and approach towards my education. Having had great success in my ESP year, my goal as a mentor is to encourage the students in ESP to take advantage of the resources offered by the wonderful people in this program who helped me to have such an amazing experience. I gained so much from the program, both as a student and a person, and look forward to being a part of that same support system for this year’s students.

Gordon

Hello, my name is Gordon, and this is my second year at Carleton. I worked for several years following high school, and then I decided that what I really wanted was to become a professional engineer! I knew that I wanted to achieve this goal, but I had never developed the skills to be academically successful while I was in high school. The ESP program changed all of that! I learned how to succeed in university from using all of the wonderful resources ESP offers. It is a fantastic program that helps with the challenging and important transition into university. Without this program, I would not be here. So this year I am excited to be part of the ESP team and to serve as your mentor.

I am looking forward to passing on some of the knowledge and experience I gained from ESP and helping you achieve the goals you have set for yourself here at Carleton!

JoJo

Yes, JoJo is my real name. It’s not short for anything. I am a student who is trying to break free in this crazy, scary and magnificent world. I was born where they filmed ‘The Lion King’ and moved to Canada when I was very young. I am a bit eccentric and love to think outside social norms. I love pop culture, I’m a movie fanatic. I’m a very honest person and I love to socialize. I also have this embarrassing thing where I mimic people’s accents, because I’m an actor. But I try to keep it in check in the classroom.

The ESP program will allow you to flourish and enrich your mind as an individual as it did for me. The most important aspect I would suggest is to listen to others, because you may learn something. The more we learn from each other, the more we all benefit. I am glad to be your mentor, and I hope you take chances and make mistakes.

(By the way, I was joking about The Lion King).

Lowri

My name is Lowri. I am a third year student at Carleton and a senior mentor this year. I am majoring in psychology with a minor in archaeology. I was in the ESP program two years ago and I am very glad to have gone through the program. I love rugby and have played for a very long time, but during high-school I let my passion for rugby get in the way of school which had a negative effect on my grades. Joining the ESP program I wasn’t sure how I felt about it but now having finished it I am glad I went through the experience because I was able to learn so much, not only about school but about myself!

As I said I love to play rugby but I also love to ski, I love history and watch documentaries in my spare time! I would like to be a teacher in the future but want to travel the world first. At Carleton I have met some amazing friends and also some amazing staff in ESP that helped me transition from high-school to university and showed me ways to enjoy learning. I had a crazy yet fun first year at Carleton, a successful second year and I am very excited to pass on my knowledge and guide you through your experience here in university.

Marie

Hey there! My name is Marie and I am so excited to be back for my third year of mentoring with ESP! I’m in my fourth year at Carleton studying Psychology with a concentration in Health Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience and Mental Health. I don’t know where I would be without all the support I’ve gotten from ESP. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be studying at university and I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have. Having dealt with different anxiety disorders and mental illness my whole life, high school wasn’t a dream come true. The further I got in high school, the more difficult it was and the more severe my illnesses became. When graduating high school and attending university seemed impossible, I was introduced to ESP. I have never been more grateful for an opportunity. ESP showed me that I have potential for success. I am excited to show other students the potential within them and hope I can show them that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to it. I can’t wait to see all your beautiful faces this year and you can always find me in the student lounge on the 15^th floor of Dunton Tower!

Nadia

Welcome to Carleton! My name is Nadia and I am one of the senior ESP/AESP mentors this year. I am a third year student at Carleton University, currently majoring in English with a minor in law. I came to ESP straight out of high school being unsure of myself and my future. When I was introduced to the ESP program I was grateful that I had a second chance to enter university to fulfill my dreams. My experience in ESP is the reason I decided to be part of the program. With the help of the first-year seminar instructors, the mentors, the coaches, and the facilitators, I realized that I did have the skills and the potential for success. The incredible support that I received in this program has helped me improve on my grades, studies and most importantly, myself. I was able to identify my skills and develop new ones in order to succeed in University.

There are no words to describe how happy I am to be a senior mentor for this year. Being a mentor will allow me to show students that they are capable of anything if they set their minds to it. I am so excited to meet you all and looking forward to making first year for new students as memorable and successful as mine was.

See you soon, Ravens!

Otis

Hello, my name is Otis. I am a second year student currently studying Psychology and Linguistics. After my grade 12 year I chose to take 3 years off school until I decided what I wanted to do for my schooling. After building up the confidence to look around at schools to see what was being offered, I came across the ESP program and knew that this would a great chance to get myself back into the school lifestyle while also gaining the skills needed to succeed. Not long after that I away moved from my town in Nova Scotia all the way to Ottawa and I have loved every second since.

After a successful first year of being in the ESP program I was accepted into my majors and also accepted to be a mentor for you guys! I still have many more goals I want to accomplish this year, as well as the years to come. I am most excited to see the new students develop themselves into true university students with everything ESP has to offer.

I’m also excited to get the chance to meet the new students participating in the ESP program. I want to get to know you all and for you to get to know me more than this little blurb will allow. :)

Peggea

My name is Peggea, former ESP/AESP student. I am bilingual (French and English). I am majoring in Human Rights. I spent most of my life here in Ottawa. I like sports, mostly basketball. I spend most of my time thinking. I am easily approachable and understanding.

I came into ESP directly from high school, after finding out that I did not meet the requirement. To me, ESP/AESP was like a second chance. ESP/AESP helped me succeed in many ways. Through attending workshops, I was able to learn what works for me and how to create success for myself. I gained a sense of individuality and self-awareness throughout my year in ESP/AESP. I also developed different ways of interacting with people. Thanks to many of the programs such as mentoring, coaching, workshops, I was able to gain success in my academics. Being part of ESP/AESP made me realize that University is not hard as long as you are willing to put in the necessary effort to succeed. Overall, ESP/AESP is an exceptional program, where many have found their success through great support, and I hope that throughout ESP/AESP you can also find your success just as I did.

RJ

Hello! My name is RJ, I am a first-year AESP mentor and first-year BA Geomatics Engineering student. I am a Mohawk from Akwesasne located in Ontario, Quebec, and New York. I was in AESP last year, after 6 years of being out of the academic world and happily did well enough to start my BA this year. I previously studied music production at Algonquin College and audio engineering at Metalworks Institute in Mississauga, ON. After several years in the field, I wanted to change fields to better support my home community than making music. My community lacks a land surveyor/GIS technician and has been for years, and I knew it something I could do, so I applied to Carleton University.

My credit choices in high school meant that I couldn’t apply through the normal routes, so I was incredibly grateful for AESP. It was a perfect blend of academic immersion in a culture-rich environment. The setting and resources were curated for the needs that today’s Aboriginal students require, and I wouldn’t have been as successful without then. I believe in giving back and being an AESP mentor is my chance to give back to the program.

I hope to bring to the table my experiences, perspectives, and insights that I have gained over the years to my position as mentor!

Robin

Welcome to the ESP/AESP! I am Robin, a senior mentor and former ESP/AESP student. I am currently in my second year of the Human Rights Bachelor of Arts program. I will take this opportunity to congratulate each and every one of you on taking this major step towards furthering your education. We all came here for various reasons but what I have learned is when life gives you lemons, bring ‘em to your workshops and first year seminars, and learn how to make the best lemonade ever!!

All cheesy analogies aside, the Enriched Support Program is truly an amazing place to cultivate the necessary skills to help you become a better student. With a dedicated team of mentors, facilitators, coaches, and advisors behind you, you can develop positive study habits, writing and organizational skills.

Looking forward to 2016/2017! Godspeed my friends!

Sarah

Welcome to Carleton! My name is Sarah, and I am a second year student with a double major in Human Rights and Political Science. My journey to ESP has been a little unusual, as I was homeschooled through high school, and had no traditional grades or diplomas when applying for postsecondary. I graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Nursing in 2011, but I had barely passed, and I could not get accepted into any programs here at Carleton. I spent five years in the workforce, and then decided to try again as a mature student. When I got accepted into ESP last year I never looked back! The extra guidance, my FYSM mentors and the amazing coaches really helped me adjust to University life and succeed at getting into my program. I can’t wait to help you all reach that same level of success and fulfillment, and I am really excited to be a part of your Carleton experience.

Tracy

Hello everyone! My name is Tracy and I am in my final year majoring in Neuroscience & Mental Health at Carleton. I have been a mentor for two years, and this year, I was given the privilege to be one again as a Senior Mentor. Having been an ESP student, I understand what it is like being a new student, and in my case, not an academically strong student. But this program has taught me how I can be a successful student, and I hope I can help you all become successful students! I hope you all enjoy the 2016/2017 school year!