While we all may now be experts about some of the resources here at Iowa State University and in some of the areas we had issues with (Cyride, homework, roommates, etc.) freshman year, it is important to realize that everyone comes from a different place. Next year as peer mentors, we may be faced with helping our students with challenge we have not really had to deal with ourselves. So maybe giving our students all of the right answers and advice will not be so easy. However, we all do have some experience with the terrors of freshman year. With all of our experience and the things we will be learning in University Studies 311, we will at the very least know something about where to turn to find the answer to any freshman’s question or problem, no matter how big or small.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Been There, Done That
Been there, done that. Peer mentoring is going to be a piece of cake, right?? I think it is safe to say that statement is not completely accurate. Once upon a time, we were all a freshmen during that first semester. (Seems like just yesterday, actually). I remember being terrified to jump on the Cyride, worried about making it all the way across campus in just ten minutes, and wondering how in the world I would manage all of the homework and readings. Little did I know: the bus routes go in a circle, the turtle walking pace I had prior to college was not permanent, and I would eventually develop a routine for homework—finding those cozy desks hidden in the library tiers was a true discovery. The terrors of beginning freshman year were infinite. Who would I be friends with? What if I don’t like my roommate? How can I get more money? All of these things were the problems I, as well as many others faced freshman year. It sure was nice to have someone to go to like out peer mentors to help us with those problems.
While we all may now be experts about some of the resources here at Iowa State University and in some of the areas we had issues with (Cyride, homework, roommates, etc.) freshman year, it is important to realize that everyone comes from a different place. Next year as peer mentors, we may be faced with helping our students with challenge we have not really had to deal with ourselves. So maybe giving our students all of the right answers and advice will not be so easy. However, we all do have some experience with the terrors of freshman year. With all of our experience and the things we will be learning in University Studies 311, we will at the very least know something about where to turn to find the answer to any freshman’s question or problem, no matter how big or small.
While we all may now be experts about some of the resources here at Iowa State University and in some of the areas we had issues with (Cyride, homework, roommates, etc.) freshman year, it is important to realize that everyone comes from a different place. Next year as peer mentors, we may be faced with helping our students with challenge we have not really had to deal with ourselves. So maybe giving our students all of the right answers and advice will not be so easy. However, we all do have some experience with the terrors of freshman year. With all of our experience and the things we will be learning in University Studies 311, we will at the very least know something about where to turn to find the answer to any freshman’s question or problem, no matter how big or small.
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All of the things you mentioned about your freshman year, I can totally relate to. I like when you mention that it is important to realize that everyone is coming from different places and next year when we are peer mentors, we may have to deal with problems that we did not have to deal with ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100 percent! When we are peer mentors next year, we probably won't always have an answer right away, but I hope I am faced with a challenge that I have never dealt with before because that is what will make me a better peer mentor and person!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned so many of the things I had questions about my freshmen year too. It helps to look back now and identify who made those first few weeks on campus easier and try to replicate how they helped. The bus routes, for example, were definitely less intimidating after someone told me the orange bus goes in a circle...
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with all of the fears you had from freshman year! I actually just realized tonight how easy it is to forget those fears. A freshman I know was struggling to deal with some classes, and I realized these are the issues I'll have to deal with over the next year.
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