Are you an excellent young woman?

The YMCA of Western Ontario will put on its annual Women of Excellence gala on May 7 and there’s an opportunity for ladies of Fanshawe College to get involved.

Under the Women of Excellence umbrella is the Young Women of Excellence Mentorship Program, where 80 high school-aged mentees from London are paired up with 20 college- and university-aged mentors to participate in a mentorship program with a focus on female empowerment and leadership.

“It’s very much about talking about the different paths they’ve taken in life,” said co-director Rachel Macaulay. “[It’s an opportunity] to interact with women their same age who may or may not have similar interests but are all looking towards becoming exemplary figures in their community.”

Macaulay says women at Fanshawe would be great candidates to take part in the program.

“Anyone from Fanshawe would be a good example, because they’re hardworking people,” she said. “They’re women who are investing [in] their futures. We’d like people with diverse interests because that is more relatable to the mentees.”

“People who would like to witness powerful women in their community and celebrate that … Young women who have an interest in learning more about what women in our community are capable of and are contributing.”

Macaulay herself has attended the gala but says it’s hard to articulate the value of the experience.

“You have no idea,” she said. “I had no idea such amazing things were being done in our community.”

“These are just amazing, amazing people, and they’ve touched so many lives. A lot of them have gone through so much adversity. To say that they’ve come out on top is an [understatement].”

Western University alumna Agnes Chick had a profound experience as a mentor.

“It was an incredible experience being able to tell my story to women who may have faced similar challenges maybe I had faced,” Chick said. “It was a rewarding time just to be able to talk to them and give them my advice of how my high school to university experience happened.”

Chick encourages all women to consider applying, even if some don’t see themselves as potential mentors.

“We could surprise ourselves with how much we’re able to offer younger people,” she said. “Initially I thought maybe I was too young for this – I just started my career – but I realized once I started talking to the young mentees that a lot of them had similar questions that I had in high school.”

“It’s something I wish I had when I was in high school. To be on the other side and give advice to people – there’s no words to describe it. It’s rewarding.”

Mentors and mentees attend the gala free of charge. Those who wish to attend the gala can do so for $150.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, visit tinyurl.com/excellentwomen for more information. Applications will be accepted in January.