“Hey! My name is Stacia, I’m from Siena Heights University and I will be your peer mentor this year!” Those were the first words that I texted to everyone one evening in the middle of August. I had just gone through long days of training with my peers getting ready for what might happen once you arrived and I was READY.

And then finally: Move-In Day. My friends and I spent hours welcoming you to campus and then helping you lug boxes and bags up to your new dorms. We watched smiles turn to tears and then turn to laughter again. Everything was going to be ok and you knew it. That entire first week was dedicated to you, for you to get comfortable with campus and with me. You had lectures, symposiums and hopefully adventures as you got used to your new home and new friends. And so did I.

Then the school year started and I can’t tell you how many frantic text messages I got that Monday morning asking if you should bring pencils to class and how to get to certain buildings. Even though I might have complained about all of the meetings I had to plan, how I couldn’t believe I had taken a third job yet again, and all of the free time that I was losing, I honestly liked being with you. As the semester rattled on though, some of you began to understand that college really wasn’t just like high school. A no brainer, right? Wrong. For most of you it was figuring out a solid balance between sports and schoolwork (which is difficult, I understand). And you know that I was hard on you for a reason, right? I started hearing stories of other classrooms with people failing. It was just barely halfway through the semester when this info came around and I just couldn’t let that happen to you. While others fell behind, you all excelled. And if you weren’t excelling, we figured out how to make sure you succeeded.

My goal wasn’t to be a figure in the classroom and then to leave you. I hope you know that you always have somebody around regardless of what is happening in your life. I made such solid friends through all of you and I know that if I ever need something, you will be there for me as well.

Thank you all for teaching me new things, especially what it means to be a friend.