December’s Mentee of the Month: Ben Guggenheim CC'22

Congratulations to Ben Guggenheim CC'22 for being selected as our Mentee of the Month for December. Ben is a Junior majoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures, special concentration in Business Management. He is a member of the Columbia Language Exchange Program, Men's Club Soccer, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Columbia Sports, Entertainment & Media. 

Interview with Ben Guggenheim CC'22

Have you connected with alumni during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, what has that experience been like? 

I have been fortunate to connect with two alumni since the spring. One I met in June and continue to receive invaluable filmmaking and journalistic advice from, and the other I only just recently met. 
What have your mentoring relationships looked like (e.g., phone, in-person)?
Typically, my mentor and I will organize biweekly or monthly Zoom calls, while frequently sending emails in between. I find it particularly helpful to meet throughout the duration of an internship program, when I can more readily apply the advice that I am given. 
What has been most helpful being a mentee?

I sometimes think of post-graduation as a great, looming unknown. Especially regarding the type of career in media and entertainment that I hope to have, even the paths of those who are successful can seem non-intuitive, so it is helpful to hear firsthand how my mentors have navigated their own professional trajectory.
What has been most surprising about being a mentee?


I am grateful to have had the opportunity to form relationships with three alumni through the Odyssey Mentoring Program. While not all of my mentors share the same academic or professional interests as I do, we have never failed to relate over our Columbia experiences. In addition, regardless of their fields, my mentors' insights have always proven transferrable to my own situation. I look forward to continuing to participate in the Odyssey Mentoring Program. 

About the Odyssey Mentoring Program

The Odyssey Mentoring Program (OMP) was founded on the belief that Columbia College students and alumni want to support one another, share stories and encourage one another’s success, thus creating a strong and tight-knit community. The College has more than 50,000 alumni working in myriad careers and around the country. OMP makes it possible for community members to connect in a variety of ways, from an email exchange to in-person meetings and small group gatherings.