Naeshia is a junior majoring in Biology. She enjoys writing poetry, reading and listening to old school music.
Naeshia’s experience as an FYE Peer Mentor has been rewarding as well as enlightening. She built strong bonds with her mentees and she learned the importance of hard work. Naeshia is using the skills she acquired from the FYE Peer Mentor position by applying them to other aspects of her life.
What is your personal definition of a mentor? My personal definition of a mentor is a person who is willing to go out of their way to assist their mentee. This person is selfless and encouraging. He or she assumes the role as a mentor at all times and behaves accordingly.
What was the best part of serving as a peer mentor? The best part was discovering that I actually impacted some of my mentees in a positive way. I was in a meeting with my supervisor one day and she informed me that several of my mentees mentioned my name in an essay they wrote about leaders they would not mind following. Of course the goal is to impact your mentees in a positive manner but when you actually accomplish that, the feeling is delightful!
Did your responsibilities as a peer mentor interfere with your studies? I did struggle with managing my responsibilities at first. I was trying to take on too much at one time and it almost affected me negatively. When I finally sat down and prioritized, matters began looking up. You just have to know what you can and cannot handle.
Would you recommend this position to a student seeking a leadership position? I would definitely recommend the position. This job gave me the extra leadership experience that I needed. I am now a Resident Assistant with University Housing and I feel that the FYE Peer Mentor position prepared me for that job.
What did you gain from being a Peer Mentor? From the Peer Mentor position I gained insight into my capabilities. This position made me push myself in ways that I had never pushed myself. I had to learn the value of time and the importance of organization. I also learned that hard work goes a long way. The relationships that I have with some of my mentees are rewarding and no paycheck can take the place of that.
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