Peer Educator Speeches

Jacqueline Guzman

As a 1 st generation college student, having the privilege to attend a university, and more importantly the honor of attending UConn, was something that filled me with joy. As I arrived the first day at UConn, the hardest moment for me was saying goodbye to my mom and family. Simply walking them to their car symbolized a new chapter in my life. As my mom left, so did my emotional crutch, my provider, and refuge from the storms life would bring. As I went to my room and walked through the door, I knew I was entering a world I was not in any shape or form prepared for. I came in with the mindset that I was here for school and solely to get an education. I went to class and when I returned to my room I did homework. After a month of this routine, I could no longer take it. I was depressed and called my mom and said I wanted to go home. Shortly after, I received an email from Financial Aid saying that I must secure a job for the semester; if not, I would lose my work-study. I began my search and found out that PR/LACC was hiring. Still hesitating to work, I applied and was hired.

PRLACC was the door to a world of opportunities. As I slowly came out of my shell, I began to speak to others and get involved. One day Dr. Perez approached a group of students at the Center and informed us that she would be starting a mentoring program that would help incoming Latino freshmen students with their transition from high school to college. Encouraging us to apply, we knew we would be serving as guinea pigs for an experiment, an experiment that today has proven its desperate need and fundamental value in increasing Latino student retention here at UConn. Being part of this program enabled me to do what I love to do most, which is to help others. I knew how hard it was for me to come to UConn as a Latina from an inner-city school. Learning to balance academics, extracurricular activities, employment, and family back at home was a challenge. I was ready to provide these freshmen with every bit of knowledge I had, from registering for classes to getting involved. More importantly, I knew that what they needed most was someone who would listen.

The METAS program has served as a stepping stone for my experience at UConn. Through the empowerment from peers and my director, I realized my potential and worth. Having finally come out of my shell, I embarked on a new journey to do more. I quickly became involved in the School of Business and in the Latino community through tutoring at Windham Heights. Despite the stressful days and sleepless nights, I was able to manage my leadership positions, duties, jobs, and academics through effective time management skills. METAS provided me with the opportunity to find my strengths and weaknesses and implement my skills to meaningful tasks and projects.

As I will soon culminate my college experience, I have truly seen how much I have grown. The confidence and self worth I have attained has enabled me to venture out and try new things I would never have imagined. I am grateful to all who supported me along the way including my mom, my family, and more importantly God.   Through their constant support, I have evolved into who I am today. Although in my freshmen year I felt alone, I gained a new family here at UConn who genuinely care for me. I want to thank Dr. Perez for always pushing me to do my best, Cindy Schaefer for being my motivator and showing me how much she cares, and Fany, a new friend and supporter. My friends, Maria and Yanira who have truly shown that they care for me and have been with me throughout the years. My mentees, Pricilla and Pablo, who without them I would not be receiving this award. Finally to all the mentors, for their hard work and dedication which has made this program what it is today.   This award is not for me, but for all of you.   METAS is the beginning of a new movement, a movement that started with hope and passion, which has been and will continue being, a success for years to come.

I would like to take a minute to say some words to my mother. I will say them in Spanish because she does not understand English that well.

.Mami gracias por ser una mujer ejemplar, la cual me ha ensenado a ser luchadora y a nunca darme por vencida. A traves de las dificultades usted a luchado para darme las oportunidades cuales puedo disfrutar hoy dia. Gracias por su sacrificio, apoyo, y amor. Se que por sus oraciones estoy donde estoy. Este honor se lo dedico a usted. La quiero mucho y que Dios le continue bendiciendo.

Ross Moran

I would like to thank the committee for selecting me as one of the peer educators of the year; I am honored to be a part of this tremendous group.   I would like to thank a few folks that have been instrumental in my peer educator development.   I would like to thank the student leaders of Community Outreach and the Community Outreach Staff, Matt, Erica, Jodi and Gina, thanks for your expertise, encouragement, and dedication. I would also like to thank everyone in this room, as peer educators we thrive on each others' energy and perseverance.  

Peer Education has provided me with the opportunity to grow as an individual while serving the community in which I live. For years I have been lucky enough to wake up everyday and have the privilege of giving back to my peers as well as the local community.  

This experience has brought to me an invaluable set of professional skills and life lessons that will only enhance my future career. Thank you UConn for providing the opportunity to participate in so many wonderful peer ed programs.  

My peer ed experience has also provided me with many wonderful friendships, some of which will undoubtedly last a life time. Everyone that I have met and worked with in peer education has been an integral part of the experience.

My favorite part of the peer education experience is building relationships with my fellow students and folks in the community. It is the intimate nature of the peer education experience that offers the high level of learning for every party. Being able to serve and learn from so many people is a unique aspect to peer ed programs. Through your academics you may encounter internships and part-time jobs that provide you with career related experience but very rarely are you given the opportunity to work with so many peers and make numerous connections that will benefit you well beyond your college experience.    

Finally, I would like to mention a few words about our responsibility to serve.   We have all served campus in our various capacities for some time. However, our service must not be confined to our college experience.   Our peer ed experience has provided us with a unique set of leadership skills. Our challenge is to use these skills, to be aware of the issues our communities face, to be a voice for change when injustice is apparent, to educate the world and most of all always serve humanity.  

Samantha Sherwood

Hello everyone and thank you for all taking some time out tonight to recognize the efforts and achievements of those involved in Peer Education. I want to first thank the Office of First-Year Programs for sponsoring this event and honoring me with this award, I am truly grateful. I want to also take a moment to thank a few people who were instrumental in me being up here right now.

I want to first thank my Dad for coming up here tonight. I think this is like the third or fourth time this year my dad has driven the two hours to campus for one function or another. So considering the rising gas prices, it means a lot to me for him to be here tonight. I like to think he attends all these things because he supports and loves me and not just because UConn gives him a free meal! I also want to thank the faculty and students who are involved in the Peer Education Programs I have worked with, especially Missy Korduner who serves as an advisor to many of my Peer Ed Programs. The student coordinators and staff are the ones who keep these programs running smoothly and are continuously raising the bar for quality. And finally, I want to thank Dr. Jennifer Lease-Butts. She is the one who has cultivated my interest in Peer Education and has encouraged me to take on leadership roles throughout my college career. Beyond that, Dr. Lease has been my advisor, my mentor, and my friend.

When I was told I had to speak tonight, I really did not know what I wanted to talk to you about. I mean everyone in this room deserves to be up here speaking. What can I say to a dynamic group of leaders who are all experts in Peer Education in their own way? So I began to look for commonalities between all of the programs and all of the participants. Is there something within Peer Education which links us all together? So while I was procrastinating the work in my classes due over the next couple of weeks (as any good college student does), I thought about all the different aspects of Peer Education, and I kept coming back to mentoring.

No matter what we are involved in, not only in Peer Education, but in all of our activities, there is some mentoring component. Whether you are involved in Community Outreach and mentoring young children you tutor, or you are on a sports team and mentor new teammates, or you are in a program such as Asiantation where mentoring is the main focus of the program, I am willing to bet that we here have all served as a mentor to someone in some capacity. But how many of you realize the importance on having your own mentor? I am not just referring to a family member or a roommate, but someone who has some similarities to you, is a little older than you, and has "been there before" so to speak. For some this person may be a faculty member, for others it is an older teammate. It may be your FYE facilitator from freshmen year, or an older classmate. Maybe you even have two, or three people who you go to for different things and can give you different advice. Regardless, if there is one thing I have learned over the years, and especially this past year, it is crucial that all of us leaders, mentors, and peer educators, have our own person to look to for guidance, support, and encouragement.

One of the core beliefs of Peer Education is that you are never too young to be a mentor. While, it is also true that you are never too old to be a mentee. Mentor/ mentee relationships will be part of you life long after you leave UConn, and it is important that you also have those relationships as you step into more and more leadership roles. Think back for a minute to when you first came to UConn. For some it may have been a few years ago, while for others it was just this past September and you still get caught looking at a map every now and then. So when you first arrived did you feel lost? Overwhelmed? Intimidated? (I see some people nodding as if they still feel that way). Now think about those people who helped you along the way resolve those feelings. Think about the people who pushed you and encouraged you.

Well surprise, surprise, those feelings are not exclusive to freshmen year of college. They are not even exclusive to new jobs and positions. Those feelings can come up anytime in anyone and it is important that you have somebody you can go to. For all of us, we are often looked to as the leaders: the people who offer guidance, support, and motivation. And we as leaders also need people to offer us guidance, support, and motivation. You need someone who you can ask for help when things are just not going right, someone who you can share your accomplishments with because you know they will be happy for you, and someone whose shoulder you can cry on (figuratively and literally) when you fail. Because all of us leaders will experience roadblocks, successes, and sometimes failures. And when you do, you need someone who can understand exactly what you are going through.

Jaclyn Vanase

Thank you for this recognition. It is really an honor.

I want to thank Dr. Betsy Cracco, the coordinator of the Violence Against Women Prevention Program. It takes incredible strength and intellect to do the job she does. She inspires me, gives me a lot of creative freedom, and pushes me to think critically about strategies.   She never fails to check up on how I'm doing and give me a self esteem boost. She has truly made my experience as a peer educator into a journey, and I have learned skills I will use for the rest of my life. Betsy – you rock.

I also want to thank Kathleen Holgerson, Women's Center, and my fellow VAWPP peer educators. Their efforts and ideas have collaboratively made the program a success. They all deserve awards for dedicating themselves to such an important cause.   The VAWPP program is a place where I can let my creativity and imagination develop into action, and I am ever grateful for that opportunity.  

I am a peer educator because it is meaningful and because I am making a difference. Sometimes I wonder if I really have that much of an impact, if anyone is really listening to me. But when I think about how much VAWPP impacted me before I was in the program, I know I must be helping people too. VAWPP connected me with support and enlightened me.   They made me realize I have a voice and can use it. They gave me a cause and the resources to help fight for it.   Before VAWPP, I didn't know that 1 in 4 college women are sexually assaulted. I didn't see the connection between sexist jokes and dating violence, and I didn't even know that sex without consent is rape. Now this knowledge is part of my everyday life.