News
PAGE 6
Sept. 2 2016
Current peer mentors, past mentees offer advice to Class of 2020 for upcoming year BY MARY STEMPKY Each year a new class of freshmen chooses the school as their home for the next four years. Though the transition from middle to high school can be challenging, the school has programs into place to help freshmen adjust. One such program that aids the newest members of the Cathedral family is peer mentoring. In an email, senior and peer mentor Emily Getz wrote, “It’s nice to have someone you talk to that isn’t an adult, because they’ve been through the same trials.” Recent beneficiaries of the program shared the same sentiment about having a peer mentor. Sophomore reflections Sophomore Nandi Hawkins said in an email about being a part of the peer mentoring program, “(The best part was) having someone to go to if I needed anything or any type of advice about school.” A freshman without a resource during the school day or week can still have a close relationship with a peer mentor. Sophomore Corinne Veazie said about working with her peer mentor Maura Wissler ‘16, “We met very rarely, but when we did I really appreciated it.” Reaching out and making time to meet with mentees is one way mentors can help. One such way peer mentors and mentees interact is through the freshman dance, which the peer mentors work. “The main thing I will try to encourage as a peer mentor is to be the best you can be. Get involved and make the most of your four years here because they go by fast,” Getz said. Relationships between mentors and mentees can last beyond the semester in which they see each other. “We still talk,” said Hawkins about her peer mentor, Maddie Lucia ‘16. Mentees to mentors Mentors can also have a lasting impression on their mentees, inspiring them to become
a mentor themselves. “I wanted to be a peer mentor because I had great ones who made the transition easier for me,” said Getz about her mentors, Eric Gerbers ‘14 and Tianna Vander Missen ‘14. Both Hawkins and Veazie said they are considering becoming mentors senior year. Veazie, however, voiced concerns about not being a very social person. “Peer mentors should be more social, that way it’s easier for them to support their underclassmen,” Veazie said. Forward-thinking juniors may already be asking if they want to serve as a peer mentor for the 2017-2018 school year. Peer mentor applications for next year will be available in the spring. According to Getz, mentors should make sure they can commit to the freshmen. “It’s an awesome experience if you go into it with the right mindset,” she said. Advice for new mentees While some new mentees might experience apprehension about the program, they may find relationships that will last a lifetime. “The peer mentor program may seem like a random thing where you’re talking to complete strangers about yourself and your grades, but the seniors that are mentoring you can become some of the closest people you talk to,” Hawkins said. Veazie shared similar advice for the new members of the program. “They should not be afraid to be friends with their mentors even though they’re upperclassmen,” Veazie said. From a mentor’s perspective, Getz encourages freshman mentees to get acquainted with senior mentors. “Get your mentors and build a relationship that will last years after you’re a freshman,” Getz said. She said she is excited to serve as a mentor this year. Getz is ready to connect with her own mentees. Getz said, “I am looking forward to making 20 new best friends and being a role model for them this semester.”
Seniors Joanie Stephens, Carson Cox and Sarah Bertrand engage with freshmen at the annual Freshman Dance. Photo by Max Eslava
A group of peer mentors lead the freshmen during the dance held on Aug. 20. Photo by Max Eslava
“The main thing I will try to encourage as a peer mentor is to be the best you can be. Get involved and make the most of your four years here because they go by fast.”
Senior Emily Getz