“A Genuine Investment”: The Power of Mentorship on IrishCompass

For senior Marly Hanna, the path to a career in dentistry hasn’t always been clearly defined. With few peers also pursuing a pre-dental track, the Arabic and neuroscience and behavior major felt like a bit of an outsider—until she connected with a mentor through IrishCompass. 

Seeking the guidance of someone who had once been in her shoes, Hanna explored the IrishCompass Three-Month Mentorship Program, which enables students and alumni to connect with alumni mentors for valuable support and guidance as mentees navigate their professional goals. Though her initial search turned up a few non-responses, she eventually matched with Dr. Lauren Alavanja ’09, a pediatric dentist whose similar story instilled confidence in Hanna to continue her pursuit of a career in dentistry.

Hanna’s advice? “Be persistent. That one ‘yes’ will change the trajectory of your career.”

This National Mentoring Month, discover how the mentoring and coaching resources available through IrishCompass help students and alumni make career connections and explore networking opportunities with accomplished alumni in their respective fields.

What was your experience like finding a mentor through IrishCompass?
Through IrishCompass, I was matched with [Dr. Alavanja], a pediatric dentist [at The Dental Center in South Bend]. That connection became one of the most formative experiences of my pre-dental journey. As a low-income, first-generation student, I appreciated having a mentor who shared a similar background. Immediately, the guidance felt honest and made me feel understood, especially in a field where so many peers already have family connections and networks in place.

Before matching with my mentor, I reached out to a few dentists, but often lacked a response from them. However, this process reshaped how I view rejection: not as a setback, but as a necessary step toward achieving my goals. I learned that persistence is about choosing to show up even when the outcome is uncertain, as one “yes” truly can change your trajectory.

What was your first meeting with Dr. Alavanja like?
Our coffee conversations at the Starbucks on Eddy St. went beyond the typical questions about credentials and achievements. She spoke openly about her struggles, her path through dental school, her study abroad experience in Chile, and her research journey, sharing lessons she wished someone had told her earlier. As someone with few pre-dental peers around me, speaking with a dentist who had already reached my dream aspiration made my future feel more tangible and more real.

My mentor also gave me rare insight into what life looks like beyond training, and what balancing full-time clinical work, leadership, and family entails. These were perspectives I couldn’t easily find online, and they helped me understand dentistry beyond simply a career, and more as a long-term calling. She welcomed me into her clinic to shadow her, and hearing the joy and conviction in her voice when she talked about her work made it clear how much she loves what she does, and it helped me imagine myself in the field with the same sense of purpose.

How has your experience with the IrishCompass mentorship program impacted you?
What meant the most to me was that her support did not stop after the three months of the mentorship program. She continued to check in, answer questions, and connect me with other dentists in the South Bend area to help strengthen my dental school application. Her consistency and dedication taught me that true mentorship is the genuine investment in someone else’s growth, leading the mentee to their target and guiding them every step of the way.

My mentorship experience helped me move from feeling like an observer of dentistry to seeing myself as someone who belongs in the field. It reminded me that being first-generation or low-income does not limit potential, but with guidance and community, my background can become a source of strength.

IrishCompass gave me more than a mentor: it gave me confidence in the field I am very passionate about and a reminder that mentorship is a two-way relationship. While I learned from my mentor, she thanked me for letting her reflect on her own journey, reminding us both of the power of connection and paying it forward.