Passport #6 Executive Mentor Program

The Executive Mentor Program required for freshmen business majors at Loyola University New Orleans has been very beneficial thus far.  The objective of this program has been to introduce the freshmen class to successful business people in the New Orleans area.  It has given us a chance to meet with these mentors and ask any questions we may have.  We have also had the opportunity to get insight into this career field and receive advice as to what career paths to take.

This experience has been very beneficial so far.  I have started networking for my future already.  I have had a chance to meet and make an impression on a leader in the business community in New Orleans, which may benefit me in the future.  I have had a chance to spend time with him, and have conversations with him, which may lead to future job opportunities.  This has also been a great experience to meet classmates and develop relationships with them.  I have met other business students who I may have not met otherwise.  This will help me to develop a network here at Loyola University as well.  I now have more relationships to turn to in case of projects or assignments.

I did not know what to expect coming into this program.  After getting to know my mentor better, I do have high expectations for next semester.  He is a very intelligent, successful financial consultant.  After knowing this and getting to know him and his family, I expect a lot of advice and stories of his experiences in the future.  

In seeking an executive mentor, I would suggest to find someone who is in the field he or she is interested in going into.  I would suggest having friendly conversations with multiple people he or she may be interested in working with so as to find the one whose personality is most similar and compatible with his or her own.  I would suggest spending time with a few prospective mentors so as to make sure he or she will find one who will be the most helpful in achieving success in the business field.

I look forward to getting to know more about what my mentor does as his career.  I am excited to get to know him on a more personal level rather than just learning about his career path.  At Loyola, I am excited to start my second semester, having gotten used to the new city first semester.  I am now more comfortable and confident being in New Orleans, and I am ready to tackle my second half of freshman year.  I plan to become more involved in school sponsored activities as well in hopes of meeting new people.

To stay connected with current events in business, I recommend the Business Week magazine website.  It is a weekly magazine that posts its articles online.  This is a great way to stay connected.  Also, Yahoo! News is also a great website to keep updated in business.  This website is usually updated very often and has the latest in current events.

Wolves on the Prowl 2008

For the Wolves on the Prowl service day, I participated in the "Cubs in the Den" activities.  Children from Good Shepherd School came to Loyola to participate in various activities in our Res Quad.  Good Shepherd School is a Jesuit School, free of tuition, offered to children coming from families who live in poverty or below minimum wage.  We led the grammar school children in games such as capture the flag, dizzy lizzy, tug-of-war, along with others.  This was a good chance to interact with children from the area.  I had an amazing time getting to know these elementary school children while being active and having fun at the same time.  

Good Shepherd School opened in 2001 and just had its first graduating class.  Two of the teachers who came to supervise the children were Loyola University alumni.  It was interesting to see the impact of a Jesuit education and how it has carried on into these alumnus's careers.  These teachers were very excited to be working with these children and help them to achieve a better education than what they would be getting in the local public school.  The intention of a school like Good Shepherd is to provide children from low income families the tools and opportunities they need to succeed and break out of the lower class family they have been born into.  

One service project that I have wanted to become involved in since being in New Orleans is Habitat for Humanity.  This organization focuses on helping rebuild homes for families willing to transform and improve their own lives.  This seems to be a very compelling and touching experience to be a part of, and what better place to participate than New Orleans?  There are many families in need of help after hurricane Katrina and I would love to be one of the volunteers who helps these families get their lives back together.  This is a non-profit organization that has been helping families for over 30 years.  This is a very hands-on experience that I feel would be very eye-opening and touching to be a part of.