“A great networking opportunity with alumni and current students alike”

Why did you join the Alumni Mentorship Programme?
I joined the mentorship program as a mentee in 2019, during the final year of my MA in Cinema Studies. My reasons for joining were two-fold: firstly, I hoped to gain some insight into what it was like to apply for and do a PhD, which is what I was aiming to do after completing my MA. Secondly, I thought it was a good opportunity to meet alumni who went into non-academic careers, and see what alternative options existed – both as a back-up for if my PhD plans didn’t work out, as well as for bridging the period between graduating from my MA and getting a PhD position.

What have you learned?
The combination of having a mentor (in my case, two) and the group activities of the program turned out to be perfect for the dual nature of my goals. Individual meetings with my mentors helped me gain insights into their post-MA trajectories and set realistic goals and expectations (for better or worse!) for what the future could hold. Even though the group component had to be cancelled midway through the program due to the pandemic, the activities in the first half were incredibly useful for learning about different types of careers possible with a Cinema Studies degree, and a great networking opportunity with alumni and current students alike. As an immigrant it was especially valuable to see the paths other international graduates of the MA took, as the Swedish job market – particularly in culture – can seem very opaque and difficult to get into.

Mentee became Mentor!
After completing my degree, I returned to the program as a mentor myself. It’s been really interesting seeing how differently the program can function depending on the goals of the people involved, and I hope to be able to pass along some of the great lessons my mentors passed on to me!

Esmé holds a MA Degree in Cinema Studies from Stockholm University and MA in Films Studies and Visual Cultures from University of Antwerp.