6-Reflection

Since the beginning of the semester I believe that I have prepared myself to be a peer mentor in many ways.  I believe through the course we have all learned about some techniques that will assist us next fall with our mentees. There isn't anything going into next semester that I am really worried about.  I feel as though I am pretty prepared for the semester and anything that I may not be completely prepared for I think I will learn as we go.  I really look forward to the challenges, and I am excited for next semester.  This fall, in training, I would hope to learn a lot about the ins and outs of r mentor position.  Some things I hope are covered in depth are the computer systems we use in the job as well as the scheduling.  I believe that we are prepared for next semester and the course has prepared us for whatever may come our way.

4- Challenges

The biggest challenge I ever encountered was actually a challenge to myself.  After graduating high school, my parents moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona.  I was not ready to leave Pennsylvania just yet, so I decided to stay there.  I had never been away from my parents for more than a few weeks at a time.  This was a huge change and I wasn't sure how it was going to play out.  I had to learn to fend for myself and truly be independent.  This taught me how much I really was capable of, and how I can push myself to do what is needed.  I lived in Pennsylvania away from my parents for three years, and I learned so much about myself in that time.  From this situation, I can pass valuable lessons onto my mentees.  Many times, freshmen are going to be away from their parents for the first times, just as I was for years.  Since I have been through this situation, sharing my story with mentees can help them see that everyone goes through that transition at some point, and it’s possible to overcome the initial shock.

Mentoring Apprentice

(I am so sorry for not blogging earlier. :s )
At the beginning of class, I was really nervous about not being resourceful to my mentees. The blog about the different resources at NAU really helped me calm down. The other day, for example, my roommate was telling me how one of her friends was having trouble in her classes because of her sickness. I remembered Brianna talking about the Disability Resource so I told my roommate about it so her friend could get extra time to finish her stuff. I felt relieved when I learned about the other resources as well because I know that if one of my mentees needs help, I will be able to guide them to the right resource. The workshops were extremely helpful as well. The health and wellness workshop was really informative because I want to fill my mentees in with health facts and help-options for whenever they need it.
I am concerned about my students feeling welcomed in their classroom environment though. How can bring them together and show a sense of community? Also, is there any tips on how to handle classes and mentoring?
I feel pretty confident about the resources NAU offers, the Passform, and other things I can't really remember but I am nervous on how I am going to handle the classes with my mentees. I would also like to know more about how to use appropriate language that won't offend anyone (ex. saying "hey guys" when there's girls or people who don't associate with guys)? Basically, how can I make everyone feel accepted and comfortable?
Other than that, thank you so much for the training, it did relieve much of my anxiety and I do feel much more comfortable!