I have been serving as COLA Peer Mentor and have had the opportunity to spend my semester working for my peers. I’ve served as a resource for over 50 students and recognize the impact of my position. I was empathetic before this position, but I have been exposed to so much more diversity that I was able to further this skill. This is something that is important to build upon as I hope to find a career in therapy. I was able to grow within the position and was offered to be a lead peer mentor where I will provide the next cohort with professional development opportunities and support. I will be in a position to become a better leader with the help of my supervisor!
As I was working with COLA, I was able to stay close to my psychology major. I was a peer mentor for a psychology course and mostly worked with psychology students. I believe my experience as a student and completion of the same course prepared me to be successful in this role. This semester has shown me that helping others is what I want to do. Being a peer mentor helped me recognize the boundaries I’ll have to establish while remaining available to those who need me.
The semester is coming to an end and I have several more steps before reaching my career goal. I need to network and talk to professionals in positions I envision myself in. I’ve done this in the past and it is how I landed this role. I’ve identified some contacts and all I have to do is reach out. As I mentioned, I want to pursue a career in therapy and graduate school is a must! I am confident in my experiences, but am hoping to find volunteer opportunities within the field. I hope that future interns can see the benefit in experiences like this! I would say the recipe to success is to communicate and actively engage in even the smallest tasks! Thank you!
It was great working with you this semester! Looking forward to working with you again next semester and having you as Lead Peer Mentor next semester!
So proud of you! Excited to continue working together in the Fall!
Hi Yajaira,
If I would’ve stayed on campus, I would have chosen to be Cola Mentor as well. I heard that it was a really good program to be in, especially for a beginning internship. I’m glad you got to enjoy your experience. It looks like you have learned a lot from it and if I were an incoming intern, I would definitely take the internship off your recommendations.
I can tell that your experience has provided valuable insights and skills that will be transferable to your future career in therapy. It's great that you were able to recognize the importance of empathy and establishing boundaries while remaining available to those who need you. Your proactive approach to networking and seeking out volunteer opportunities in the field shows great initiative and dedication to your goals. Best of luck in your future endeavors.