Undersatnding the Role of a Peer Mentor

Peer Educators are a valuable resource for Iowa State University. When I think back over the last year and I half, I cannot even count how many times a peer educator has helped me. Before we even accepted ISU, we met with cyclone aids who gave us the grand tour of the beautiful campus where we all decided to come for higher education.

In class, we discussed concerns the incoming freshmen may have, many that were on the board were questions I had when I came to college. I feel that through this activity and the activity of acting as a peer mentor/student to answer questions we may be asked by the incoming students helped me remember what it was like to be an incoming student. The mentor/student activity also got me thinking about how to answer the questions the students will be asking next fall. Experience is great knowledge that can be utilized to help new students and to help ourselves. I also love that we, the current peer mentors, have such a diverse mix of majors. I believe that we can give better insight to students going into similar majors because we know our own course requirements for our majors and colleges. 

The first couple chapters in the book laid out the importance of peer educators. The first chapter explained that peer mentors are role models and the author gave tips on how to better yourself and tips for being a peer mentor. The second chapter hit on the topics of maturation and changes in personal development. From personal experience, I feel like a completely different person than what I was as a senior in high school, I even feel like a different person from last year. I think that college makes you grow as a person, whether good or bad and as a peer mentor, I am there to positively impact others' lives.

It was easy for me to forget all of the questions and experiences I had my first year of college because I no longer worry about the things I did coming in freshman year but the class activities and the readings helped me remember how I felt. Information and experiences are powerful and if they are used right, one can make a huge difference in others' lives and that is what I plan to do as a peer mentor.           

A Little About Me

I am from Earling, which is a small town located in the southwest region of Iowa. I went to a small parochial school from preschool until eighth grade and then I went to Harlan High School. I have always loved my science classes and I am currently majoring in biology. I am also interested in history. What I enjoy doing the most is being outdoors and working on projects like building book cases. My favorite hobby would be camping.

I felt that I was at my best when I was working at a nursing home as a certified nurses' assistant. I love to help others and at my job I always felt that I was helping my residents feel comfortable and happy. I made a difference in their lives and they defiantly impacted mine.

As a peer mentor, I would like to help the incoming Hixson Scholars adjust to college life and I want them to feel welcome to Iowa State. I also have a goal to become more comfortable talking in front of groups. My role as a peer mentor is to be a liaison between the Hixson program and Iowa State University. I would like the freshmen to feel that they can ask me anything and I will be there to help them. We have already been through the emotions and situations the incoming freshmen will be experiencing therefore, I feel that peer mentors have the insight to help the freshmen get through their first semester.