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Rob Hart/Chronicle
Peer Educators, Katie Kneeland (left) and Asia Hamilton (right) with Outreach Coordinator Keri Kurlinski.
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Lending a Helping Hand
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by Keri Kurlinski
Outreach Coordinator, Career Planning & Placement |
Are you losing sleep at night wondering which path to take professionally? If so, you’re not alone. Research has shown that most college students have either undeclared majors or will change their major sometime within their college career.
The good news is that four experienced students have been hired and trained to assist
students in planning their major and career, thanks to a retention mini-grant from the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. They are Peer Educators, and they work in the Career Resource Center, located on the third floor of the 623 S. Wabash building.
Katie Kneeland, Asia Hamilton, Lindsay Quinlan and Kristen Williams have the honor and challenge of serving as the first-ever Peer Educators in the Career Planning and Placement Office. Training for this leadership position was intensive, yet fun. Peer Educators are trained to be extremely familiar with the resources available in the Career Resource Center, especially assessment tools that can help students find the right major for them.
The Peer Educators are also busy planning programs and events for students. Their next event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 17 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. It will be a pizza party with assessment tools available for students to take, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the System of Interactive Guidance and Information (SIGI).
Both of these assessment tools are easy and fun to take, and provide a wealth of useful information for anyone who wants to learn more about what careers would be best for them. This event is open to all students. If you would like to attend, simply call us at 312-344-7281 to R.S.V.P.
The Peer Educator job itself has proven to be very rewarding. Hamilton’s favorite part of the position is “being able to help people with something that affects the rest of their lives.”
When asked what advice she had for students, Hamilton said, “If you are unsure of what you want to major in, you should come see us! I wish they had a program like this when I was a freshman. I definitely would have taken advantage of it.”
Peer Educators will be hired annually by the Career Planning & Placement Office. If you are interested in applying for the academic year of 2000-2001, applications will be available in Suite 300, 623 S. Wabash in mid-April.
To schedule an appointment with a Peer Educator, just call 312.344.7281, or stop by the Career Resource Center. We’re in room 308, 623 S. Wabash. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. |
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