Looking back on your experience as a Mentor Fellow, what was the most meaningful part of supporting and guiding other Fellows throughout their conference journey?
The most meaningful part of supporting other Fellows for me was helping them to make connections at the conference. Making connections with families and other professionals is what its all about, and being able to introduce someone who is new to conference to other attendees was so important for their Fellows experience.
How did serving as a Mentor Fellow contribute to your own growth as a leader, professional, and member of the CHARGE community?
Serving as a Mentor Fellow helped me to make strong connections with people in the community. I was able to get to know some of the Board Members and Lisa Cunningham, our Executive Director, better; which gave me the confidence boost I needed to apply for a board position. As a Mentor, it also gave me an opportunity to spend time with Meg Hefner and learn so much more about the foundation. She is such a pioneer and to be able to learn from her was and continues to be something that helps me to grow professionally.
What would you say to a former Fellow who is considering becoming a Mentor Fellow but is not yet sure whether to apply?
Being part of the Fellows program is such an honor and is a way for newer professionals to carry the torch. Mentor Fellows have the opportunity to support incoming Fellows and give them the support they need so that their conference experience will make them want to keep coming back and support the CHARGE Syndrome community.
