As Peer Power’s Lead Program Director, one of my greatest joys is finding innovative ways to enhance the transformative programs we’ve been running in schools for two decades. Our dedicated Program Directors and Success Coaches have been empowering high school and middle school students through in-school interventions, spring and fall camps, and other initiatives. After nearly a decade with Peer Power, I have found the most fulfillment from the peer mentoring component both between Success Coaches and students, as well as the mentorship between full-time staff and college-aged employees. This has had a profoundly positive impact, individually and organizationally.
In my years working in education, I’ve witnessed firsthand the powerful influence peer relationships can have on student success. These relationships create a nurturing environment where mentees feel supported during their transitions academically, socially, and personally. As someone who struggled in their formative years because of a lack of mentorship, I can’t overstate how invaluable it is to have a mentor/leader to turn to for advice.
Program Directors and Success Coaches are there to guide mentees – explaining how to get involved, navigate their surroundings, understand expectations, and ultimately become confident, engaged members of our community. However, the mentors themselves stand to gain just as much from this experience. Serving as a mentor builds critical leadership skills like public speaking, active listening, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence – tools that will benefit them in the classroom, our long-running intervention programs, and even in their personal and professional pursuits.
Perhaps most importantly, peer mentoring facilitates profound personal growth on both sides. These relationships encourage scholars and Success Coaches to step outside their friend groups, broaden their network, and gain new perspectives. Both mentors and mentees will have the opportunity to develop empathy, goal-setting abilities, and a sense of responsibility for their school community that extends far beyond our spring and fall camps.
At Peer Power, we believe wholeheartedly in empowering our scholars and Success Coaches both academically and personally. This peer mentor program will create more avenues for them to learn, grow, and uplift one another, building on our 20-year legacy of impact. As someone who has poured their heart into this organization, I’m eager to see the lasting effect it will have in the years to come, thanks to the dedication of our remarkable Program Directors and Success Coaches.