This blog is an archived post written by Sanya during her 4^th year in the Environmental Politics stream

 

 

 

Why I Volunteer:

I volunteer my time as a Peer Mentor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies to aid transitioning high school students into university life. I had a strong desire to share what I experienced with other incoming students because even before I started university, I looked up to the Peer Mentor volunteers that spoke about their experiences and inspired me to join environmental studies during a Spring Open House I attended at York University in 2012. Even if you are doing the most that you can, there might be a more efficient way of doing things. You will be able to find more efficient ways only through experience, which the Peer Mentors all have. Each Mentor's experience is different however, and by having access to a team of around 19 students, you can choose who might be able to answer your questions about life as a university student.

I know when I help others  with their endeavors I am also helping myself as when others around me thrive we build a community of strong, resilient and intelligent individuals while growing our own networks.

Training:

Peer Mentors are not simply volunteers, but students who are also working jobs in and outside the Faculty as well.

To become a Peer Mentor, there is a screening process, which consists of submitting a resume to the Student Success Coordinator, who is also the Peer Mentor supervisor.

She then calls you in for an interview to simply ask you why you would like to volunteer. Think of this as good practice for when you have to give an interview for your dream internship.

Once past this stage, you have a training day before the Fall Orientation Day so that you get to know your fellow Peer Mentors as well as learn how to provide excellent support to your future fellow students.

The day consists of various games, activities, food, and guidance. It feels more fun than work if you enjoy group skill building exercises.

As a volunteer, I have also had the opportunity this year to be part of a pilot York project called BecomingYU, which aims to help students track the skills they are gaining so that university education can translate more effectively into workplace skills.

Activities:

The first task as a Peer Mentor is to meet the first year students on Orientation Day during their Social Orientation (Frosh) week (which I highly recommend everyone to attend as I am still friends with the people I met during Social Orientation), where they meet the Dean of the Faculty, start to get to know each other, and learn about York’s services and perform various fun activities. 

There are various other events planned by the lovely Mentor volunteers such as de-stress days and each Peer Mentor has office hours which are posted in the HNES building. If there is a question any student has, there should be a Peer Mentor available to answer them! Request a Peer Mentor any time throughout the school year by contacting the Student Success Coordinator, Ann Tsirgielis.