# @princetonspia on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/B79SYT5Bzs8
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20742516-princetonspia-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/5c395c324a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-01-30T20:42:47.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Princeton SPIA (@princetonspia) — https://gondola.cc/princetonspia

## Caption

January is #MentoringMonth, and today is #ThankYourMentorDay! We’ll be sharing a few reflections from the Students and Alumni of Color (SAOC) fall mentoring retreat, which convened participants for a day focused on healing and restoration, support and guidance, and encouragement and friendship. Have a #mentor you’d like to thank? DM us!
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“My goal while at the wilson_school is to shift from SNAP to transportation policy — a daunting shift, given my experience level. As luck would have it, one of the mentors at the wws_saoc retreat was Midori Valdivia MPA ’08, chief of staff to the chairman and CEO at mtanyctransit. I was able to have a meaningful conversation with her about my passion and interests in #transportation. She provided me with insightful feedback, clear direction, and connected me with people who are currently working in my areas of interest. Midori, along with the other mentors, affirmed me and my decision to switch #policy lanes. It was serendipity in action that she was there and able to talk to my niche interests and to affirm me as a woman of color entering a new space. Connecting with Midori accelerated my learning curve and calmed some real fears that I was having about making this change. I am grateful for the mentoring retreat and overwhelmed by the immediacy of the impact it is having on my career moving forward.” - Renee Peterkin MPA ’21 JSI ’16. #Princetagram

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## Tags

policy, princetagram, mentor, thankyourmentorday, mentoringmonth, transportation

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