November 12, 1998

Peer Educators promote healthy lifestyles 

Bethany Parrish
Staff Writer
     College life can be stressful and confusing, but a group called the Peer Educators are dedicated to helping students gain and maintain healthy lifestyles. 

     The program was established in 1982 and is still an inter-racial part of the Wellness Center today. 

     The Wellness Center says the mission of the Peer Educators is to ensure that “wellness is an on-going process achieved through the balance and moderation of components that make up our lives.” 

     Their programs emphasize that social, physical, intellectual, occupational, spiritual and emotional aspects are all essential in obtaining a high level of wellness. 

     The Wellness Center chooses a team of students each semester to act as Peer Educators. The team breaks off individually to speak to groups on campus about various topics of concern. 

     The subjects of the presentations include alcohol, drugs, safe sex, stress management, nutrition, fitness and personal safety.

     Through the years, peer education has been proven to work, because the information is coming from students who are the same age and dealing with the same issues as those they are educating.

     The team is made up of 13 Wellness Peer Educators, two co-coordinators of the Wellness Center, Peer Educators Kim Rendon and Christy Parker, the counselor for substance abuse Dale Kirkley and the Wellness Center coordinator Kit Olson. 

     The Peer Educators include Anne Roth, Tricia Foreman, Andrea Howze, Sarah McNeely, Michael Ackerman, Rebecca Goza, Kelly Steele, Randy Carlile, Susan Ringo, Jackie Kelly, Cary Harris, Robin Williamson and Tiffany Fant. 

     Co-coordinator Kim Rendon said each Peer Educator will usually present six to eight programs throughout a semester. She said, overall, they present three programs a week. 

     The group meets each week to discuss and prepare for upcoming programs. They practice ice-breakers which will be used during their presentations. 

Making the students comfortable is an important aspect of their presentations, because open discussion is a main part of the process.		      Most programs held by the Wellness Center are for residence halls and classes such as Freshman Seminar. However, anyone on campus can contact the Wellness Center and schedule a Peer Educator to speak to a group of students. 

     Peer Educator Michael Ackerman feels students would benefit from their presentations. 

     “I think it is a valuable program, and I wish more people would get involved,” said Ackerman. 

     Peer Educator Robin Williamson said their job is to share information with students on campus, but at the same time, they are learning a great deal about themselves.

     “I really enjoy being a Peer Educator.  I am not only teaching my peers, but myself, as well,” said Williamson.

     Ackerman presents many programs on safe sex. He says he likes the programs to be 90 percent disscusion, so he often begins with ice-breakers. 
One of the ice-breakers he uses is the placing of a condom onto a fake penis while porno music plays in the background. He tries to loosen up the group, because the subject of sex often creates tension and silence.

     The Wellness Center is starting to recruit Peer Educators for the spring semester. 

     They are looking for undergraduate students from all majors, but strongly encourage students majoring in areas concerning such issues as health promotions, education and psychology to apply. 

     If you are interested in becoming a Wellness Peer Educator for the spring semester, contact the Wellness Center at 262-3148.
 

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