Applications to become a SEM 100 Peer Facilitators are open! If you’re interested in a unique and fulfilling opportunity to make an impact on campus and help create structural change by engaging first-year students in their transition to campus, you should apply. Learn more and find the application on the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs website. Applications are due by 11:55 p.m. on Friday, March 6.
Still not sure if becoming a peer facilitator is the right fit for you? Keep reading to learn what Cassandra Rodriguez ’22 and Kyle Rosenblum ‘ 20 have to say about their experiences as peer facilitators:
Cassandra Rodriguez ’22
Why did you become a SEM 100 Peer Facilitator?
“I became a peer facilitator for SEM 100 because I wanted to be a part of real change on campus. After taking the course in my freshman year I knew that this course could be designed for so much more—where people weren’t simply teetering over real issues of diversity and inclusion on campus. Therefore, I decided to facilitate this course, as I wanted to help this class get deep into the roots of some of these major issues as they relate to our campus community. This class has now become something very unique where students can learn about themselves in relation to others and tackle issues of belonging on campus, race, gender and privilege.”
What was your most rewarding experience as a peer facilitator?
“My most rewarding experience as a Peer Facilitator was when I was able to get students to think about themselves and their privilege in very different ways than they were used to. In one activity during class, students were asked to fill out an identity wheel and were then told to share it with the rest of the class. In my own personal identity wheel, being a Latina woman filled up a large portion of my circle. A fellow student then proceeded to share theirs and take note that they often leave their privilege unchecked. He said that being a white male was not something which he thought of on a daily basis, as he is never oppressed based on his gender nor his race. After this course, he emailed me letting me know that he will strive to think of his privilege and check it in every circumstance. This was such a rewarding experience to me, as that was the main thing I wanted students to take away from this course—understanding their privilege and how they could use this privilege to fight for others whose voices often go unheard.”
Did you learn something new or gain any valuable skills?
“Being a SEM 100 facilitator, I have gained many valuable new skills. For one, my communication skills have significantly increased. I am now better at articulating my thoughts and ideas to a small group of people. Before becoming a peer facilitator, I found it very difficult to get up and do a presentation or even speak up in class. After my position as a facilitator, I have found myself to be more open to speaking up in class and sharing my true and honest thoughts with my peers and professors. Another skill I have gained is time management. As a facilitator, you need to find the time to read assignments, read the material for class the next day, and come prepared and knowledgeable on the subject matter. Finally, I have learned to be more open-minded. There are students from many diverse backgrounds who have never been exposed to the amount of diversity found on campus. Being a Latina from Miami, I was used to feeling safe and comfortable with people who looked, sounded and acted like me. White people from smaller towns also experienced these same feelings of safety within their own communities. Therefore, we all have a lot to learn and always have to place respect for others as a number one priority.”
Why should others become peer facilitators?
“Others should become peer facilitators as this is truly such a rewarding experience where you get to make students feel that sense of belonging on campus. I had always struggled with finding my place at SU away from my hometown, and other first-year students are going through similar feelings. SEM 100 is a great class to show students they belong on this campus as much as anyone else. This course also allows students to talk about issues they’re going through and often are surprised that other students are going through similar feelings. Become a peer facilitator so you can help others feel a sense of belonging, learn a lot about yourself in relation to others around you, and help facilitate meaningful conversations on campus.”
Kyle Rosenblum ’20
Why did you become an SEM 100 Peer Facilitator?
“I became a SEM 100 peer facilitator because I knew that the course is becoming an integral part of a Syracuse University education. Being only in its second year, SEM 100 still has a lot of room to evolve and improve as the feedback from each session is incorporated into the next. I wanted to be a part of this process—to help build a course that would be impactful to all Syracuse students and that would begin to create a better campus environment. I also deeply value being a part of transitions to campus for first-year students and love being able to be a resource for first-years, so being a peer facilitator was a very appealing opportunity.”
What was your most rewarding experience as a peer facilitator?
“Thus far, my most rewarding experience as a peer facilitator was seeing the monumental differences between the SEM 100 course from the fall semester of 2019 to the spring semester of 2020. It looks and feels like a completely different course, and it was exhilarating to see how student feedback was able to completely re-define the scope and content of the course. In my SEM 100 classes, I have gotten to know first-year students I never would have had the opportunity to meet otherwise and have formed bonds throughout our conversations about childhood experiences, adjusting to college and the transition to becoming part of the campus community.”
Did you learn something new or gain any valuable skills?
“I am constantly learning new things through my role in SEM 100. With the course content change, I found myself being challenged to reflect more deeply than I previously had on my childhood, the ways I have been socialized growing up and my own experiences on campus. More than that, I am constantly learning from the very students in my classes. Each student has brought their own unique perspective with them to class every day, and when they are willing to embrace discomfort and engage in meaningful conversation, it can be incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.”
Why should others become peer facilitators?
“Being a peer facilitator is as much a learning and growing experience as it is an opportunity to be a resource for first-year students transitioning to campus. You will experience personal growth in just having the opportunity to form a close relationship with your lead facilitator, go through training and facilitate discussions throughout the course of the semester. Through this role, I have reflected deeply on my own college experience and life leading up to it, and I have refined my skills in public speaking and discussion. As a bonus, it is a paid position—which means students don’t have to decide between applying to a role they are genuinely passionate about and working a job to pay for textbooks, meal plans and housing. I highly recommend all students interested in being a part of SEM 100 to learn more about what it entails and how to apply!”