Showing Up: A Student’s Perspective on Connection, Mentorship, and Growth

Guest writer and Lane Community College student Megan Steber offers her perspective as a mid-career student on two programs that have created important opportunities: Mentor Connect, a partnership between the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Onward Eugene, and Lane Community College that pairs students with business professionals; and Student Access Pass, a Springfield Chamber program that allows students access to business networks and programming.

As a non-traditional student, returning to school mid-career is a deliberate choice. One that comes with a different kind of pressure and a different set of needs than a traditional student path. I arrived at LCC with real-world experience but without the professional network, local connections, or structured support that can be hard to build on your own. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce‘s Mentor Connect program addressed all of that in ways I didn’t fully anticipate.

The partnership between the Chamber and Lane Community College is undervalued. Lane is building the local workforce; the Chamber represents the businesses and leaders that those students will one day work alongside. This program connects those two worlds intentionally.

An important piece of that connection was the Chamber’s Student Access Pass program. Being able to attend Chamber events like the Leadership Summit, open houses, and community networking events put me in rooms I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. Those experiences let me build relationships and start forming a network in the community. That kind of access matters, especially for students who are newer to the area or don’t already have an established local network.

For any student, traditional or non-traditional, not fully engaging with this program is a missed opportunity. A student early in their journey has just as much to gain as someone returning mid-career. Experience isn’t a prerequisite for this kind of growth. Showing up is.

– Megan Steber, Lane Community College student and Mentor Connect program participant

The mentorship itself added something hard to put a number on. Having a mentor who challenged my thinking, asked the questions I wasn’t asking myself, and was willing to be candid when I needed to hear something hard, made a real difference in how I approached my career and where I’m headed. I had the privilege of being matched with Christine Silver of Silver Business Solutions, and I cannot speak highly enough of the time, expertise, and genuine care she brought to this partnership over the last six months. She showed up prepared, asked the right questions, and never made me feel like I was just a program obligation. What I’m most grateful for is that even though our formal meetings may be behind us, our relationship isn’t. That’s not something a program can manufacture; that’s the result of a mentor who takes the work seriously and invests in people for the long term. That kind of connection is rare, and I don’t take it lightly.

As someone who spent over a decade in the workforce before coming back to school, I can tell you honestly, I never had an opportunity like this presented to me. When in your career will you have dedicated time and space to reflect, grow, and build relationships alongside established business leaders in your own community? The answer, more often than not, is that you won’t. Take advantage of it now.

These programs have real value. Thank you to the Chamber for everything they put into making them happen. They’ve made a real difference for me, and I hope this feedback helps them do the same for the students who come after me. 

More about the Mentor Connect Program
Mentor Connect, part of the Springfield Chamber’s WorkReady initiative, is a partnership between the Springfield Chamber, Onward Eugene, and Lane Community College, which pairs 20-30 LCC students with local business and industry mentors for a six-month career exploration experience (November – April). The goal is to prepare students for future internships and early career success by connecting them with professionals who can provide guidance, insight, and connections to the local business community. This program wouldn’t be possible without a $5,000 investment from LCC and the Springfield Chamber’s Impact Investors.

More about Student Access Pass
Also part of the Springfield Chamber’s WorkReady initiative – which aims to cultivate a strong workforce development system through targeted investments and collaborative partnerships – the Student Access Pass program provides student of all ages access to Chamber programs and events that grow their networks and gain a better understanding of career opportunities available to them. Contributions from the Chamber’s Impact Investors help fund this program.

Springfield Chamber Impact Investors
Both of these programs – and many others – are made possible, in part, by the Springfield Chamber’s Impact Investors, whose generous dollars help fund the Chamber’s most high-impact work, including workforce development programs like these. Impact Investors are individuals and organizations who believe in a bold, collective investment in Springfield’s future, from business advocacy and public policy leadership to regional workforce development and small business growth.