As we start the spring semester, many students are coming back to campus looking forward to joining new organizations, clubs and jobs. If you’re looking to interact with the Syracuse University community and get paid, why not join the peer education team? There are three peer education teams on campus that help provide health and wellness education through interactive programming and initiatives. Substance use education and harm reduction (Be Wise), sexuality and healthy relationships (Peer Educators Encouraging Healthy Relationships and Sexuality) and mental health (Students Advocating Mental Health Empowerment) are the teams students are able to be a part of and connect with their peers.
Here is what you may not know about peer education:
1. It’s paid
This is a paid position, meaning any event or thing associated with peer education is compensated! This includes meetings with your teams (which are only about an hour long), Syracuse University events and some time to participate in ANY Barnes Center at The Arch event/programming. After a long day of classes who wouldn’t enjoy being able to clock in and sit in on meditation and mindfulness activities or a workshop such as Sexy Bingo or Soul Talk. Not to mention Pet Therapy and the massage chairs in the Crowley Family MindSpa!
2. You can be featured on @BeWellSU
Who doesn’t like getting featured on their school’s Instagram. Peer education always has several opportunities for peer educators to get featured on the @BeWellSU main page! You may have seen some of your friends on Instagram Reels or pictures showing off health promotion swag. Some may even be featured on our virtual Health Hubs (which is a fun way to learn about a new topic and get a prize). If you miss our virtual Health Hubs, you can also see your friends promoting in-person Health Hubs or driving our Mobile Health Hub. Regardless, there’s always a fun way to get involved.
3. You get SWAG
Being able to show off the new peer education swag is a really great perk. Peer educators are able to represent their teams through comfortable t-shirts and stickers. Not to mention, the Health Hub shirts, crewnecks, brain teasers and tote bags. Graduating seniors get a stole for their hard work as a peer educator, which is something to show off proudly at graduation!
4. Professional and education oppportunities
Syracuse University has many resources to offer, but not all students may be aware of them. Many offices on campus such as Multicultural Affairs, LGBTQ Resource Center, Hendricks Chapel, Center for International Services, Student Outreach and Retention, along with others, come into our annual fall training and talk about what they have to offer. Peer educators can sit in their rich presentations and ask questions (yes, training is also paid). We also get bystander training and Title IX, sexual and relationship violence prevention training. Not to mention, we learn how to facilitate and prepare for anti-hazing presentations. With the knowledge and facilitation skills that we develop, we can direct our fellow peers to the resources they need and inform them what the offices have to offer. We can also use the offices on our own time and become aware of what the University has to offer.
5. You become a family
Peer educators work with each other and get to know one another on a weekly basis. We all share the Peer Education Suite at the Barnes Center, which is the space we use for work. We can grab snacks, help each other practice presentations and catch up with each other. Even if it’s through Zoom or in-person, we still manage to help each other, laugh and share memories because it’s an immediate connection. Seeing a friendly face on the Quad or in Schine is great because we build our bond. We also get to know the staff because they allow themselves to open up and help us with anything that we need. Many have found their work best friends or even their housemates because of peer education. Not to mention their holiday celebrations that many peer educators and staff love participating in.
If you’re eager to learn about health and wellness and connect with fellow Syracuse University peers, don’t hesitate and apply to become a Peer Educator for the 2022-2023 school year! If you would like to learn more, attend our virtual interest sessions on Feb. 4, at 3 p.m., Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m., and Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m.
Written by Yhanelly Ruiz ’23, College of Arts and Sciences, SAMHE Peer Educator