The deadline to apply to be a Barnes Center at The Arch Peer Educator for the 2021-22 academic year is Sunday, Feb. 28, and all students are encouraged to submit an application. Students who are interested in applying for a paid Peer Educator position can register to attend an interest session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.
As we continue to experience the pandemic, prevention efforts and education about mental health, safe substance use, and healthy relationships and sexuality are more important than ever. Peer Educators connect their fellow students to health and wellness resources on campus, such as the Sanvello mobile app, Wellness Leadership Institute workshops, Safer Sex Express and more, empowering students to live their happiest, healthiest, well-informed lives.
Between the three groups, Peer Educators focus on the different Dimensions of Wellness. BeWise Peer Educators focus on educating students so they can make informed decisions regarding alcohol and other substances. PEEHRS, or Peer Educators Encouraging Healthy Relationships and Sexuality, create a safe space on campus to discuss all aspects of relationships and sexuality, including healthy relationships, consent, safe sex and more. SAMHEs, or Students Advocating for Mental Health Empowerment, focus on mental and emotional health support and outreach.
Peer Educators are the driving force behind the Health Hubs across campus, and assist with the Wellness Leadership Institute workshops, which cover a wide variety of topics from “How to Talk About Money” to “Pizza and Sex.” Through participating in these activities, Peer Educators build close friendships, meet people across campus, and develop professional skills. They are campus leaders and role models for their peers, and represent some of the best and brightest Syracuse has to offer. The minimum time commitment as a Peer Educator is seven to 10 hours a week, but you are compensated for your time—Peer Educators are paid positions!
Still not sold on joining? Let the words of BeWise peer educator Megan Leichtman ’22, pique your interest to join the Peer Educator team.
As a Peer Educator, you:
1. Join a supportive community.
BeWise peer educator Megan Leichtman.
“My favorite part about being a Peer Educator is being able to work with so many awesome people with such diverse backgrounds and interests. I love seeing my fellow Peer Educators because everyone is always excited and happy about the work that we do, inside and out of the office. Also, I love being able to meet people through presentations. It is very rewarding to help educate our campus community on health and wellness topics, and then to see people implementing the skills and knowledge that we have taught them.”
2. Have a flexible schedule.
“Balancing student responsibilities and being a Peer Educator is something that I continue to learn. Throughout my time so far in college I have taken on leadership roles in other organizations, and up until the spring of my sophomore year, I struggled to manage my time and responsibilities productively. However, I found great support and flexibility from the Barnes Center at The Arch team and the Peer Educator team leaders, and everyone in the office has always been very helpful and accommodating. I find that I now have an easier time balancing being a Peer Educator and my other responsibilities.”
3. Develop life skills.
“I look back and am extremely grateful because being a Peer Educator has shown me how to maintain a balance between school, work and life, since the beginning of my time in college. Additionally, being a Peer Educator has allowed me to develop healthy lifestyle habits and be aware of the great resources that we have here at Syracuse University. Ultimately, being a Peer Educator has led me to a well-rounded college experience. I think it is very important for college students to learn collaboration skills before stepping into their careers, and being a Peer Educator is a great way to do so.”
4. Gain self-confidence.
“A skill that I have gained from being a Peer Educator is, without a doubt, confidence. Among the Barnes Center at The Arch health and wellness team, I have found such great support from my peers as well as the staff. They have helped me work on my confidence in public speaking, which I have been able to utilize for presentations, Health Hubs and even in my classes.”
5. Expand your horizons.
“Three benefits of being a Peer Educator are a greater knowledge about campus life in general, having ample access to furthering our education about health and wellness, and the team-oriented workplace. Being a Peer Educator has significantly impacted my personal growth. Since my first year as a student, being a Peer Educator has helped me blossom into a well-rounded individual. It has encouraged me to explore my interest in health and wellness, learn collaborative working skills and break out of my shell. Now as a Peer Educator, stepping outside of my comfort zone excites me. I am so grateful for my experiences and I look forward to all that is to come.”
Find the application and more in-depth job descriptions on the Barnes Center at The Arch Peer Educators webpage. To request accommodations or with questions, contact Barnes Center at The Arch Health Promotion at 315.443.8000 or healthpromotion@syr.edu.
Story by Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience communications intern Cecelia Kersten ’23.
