Tuesday, March 6, 2012
FYE Peer Mentors Share Their Stories
Are you interested in becoming an FYE Peer Mentor but you aren't sure if the job is for you? Keep scrolling and read about the experiences of past FYE Peer Mentors. Our FYE Peer Mentors are diverse in that they come from various backgrounds, majors and classifications. Each story is different so find the story that relates to you!
FYE Peer Mentor Jasmin Benward
Jasmin goes into detail about her role and responsibility as a FYE Peer Mentor.
What made you want to become a peer mentor? As a former FLC student becoming a peer mentor to this program was important for me because my particular FLC did not have a peer mentor. The experience, however, was so awesome that I felt obligated to help in any capacity that I could.
How did you balance schoolwork, campus involvement and the peer mentor position? I prioritized and ultimately felt more responsible for school work and mentor-related responsibilities. Not only did I have to make sure things were done for myself, but I had professors and other students that relied on me to make suitable choices.
Do you feel you made a lasting impression on your mentees? I feel confident that I made a lasting impression on my mentees. Not only do we continue to communicate on campus, but I still receive e-mails from several of them asking for my advice about registration, note-taking tips, etc.
If you could do it all over again what would you do differently? If I could do it all over again I would meet with the students more frequently to identify their questions or concerns midpoint, opposed to the beginning and the end of the semester.
What did you gain from being a Peer Mentor? From being a Peer Mentor I gained leadership experience and an opportunity to become actively involved on campus.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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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