What is a Peer
Educator?
Peer to Peer Education has been proven to be one of the best ways
to promote healthy decision making among students. Peer
Education is a way to attack the idea that college students are
meant to binge drink, lose sleep, feel stressed, gain/lose weight,
etc. Right now these issues are viewed as “the norm.”
We know this just is not so and now, together, we are doing
something about it. Wellness Peer Educators educate in a fun and
interactive way with the latest information.
Why should I become
a Peer Educator?
- To be a role model to your peers
- To gain valuable leadership training
- To boost your public speaking and communications skills
- To have fun!
What are the
benefits of being a Peer Educator?
- Being trained in health issues that improve your own decision
making and knowledge-base, and benefit your peers as you share this
information in your everyday life, such as alcohol, tobacco and
other drugs, stress management, etc.;
- Becoming better familiarized with St. John’s University health
offices and develop relationships with professional and student
staff that will benefit your health promotion work on campus;
- Receiving updates on health issues on campus, upcoming
programs, collaborative opportunities, etc.;
- Becoming part of a dynamic community of students with similar
interests; and
- Being formally recognized by the SWELL office as a volunteer
and having your service hours appreciated and recognized.
What would I do
as a Peer Educator?
- Attending any required trainings on college health topics and
prevention methodologies; attending optional trainings as interest
and time allows;
- Attending most of the weekly planning meetings in order to get
involved with current activities or initiate new efforts;
- Developing, participating in and promoting collaborative
educational projects with other departments and student
groups;
- Serving as a visible health resource and referral source to
your peers on a daily basis, as the opportunity arises;
- Informing SWELL of your concerns, perceived health issues on
campus, student opinion, and areas in health education that need to
be addressed; and
- Holding office hours (based around your class schedule) for
three to five hours per week in the Peer Educators’ office.
What if I have no
background to be a Peer Educator? How can I get
trained?
In order to be formally recognized as a Peer Educator, you must
participate in an initial training weekend. This will be offered at
least once per academic year, usually at the start of the spring
semester. If training has already occurred for the current year,
your name and application will be retained for involvement the
following year. Additionally, in order to maintain your status, you
must actively participate in the group and strive to attend
optional trainings offered during the year. The specifics of these
expectations are covered during training.
Other training opportunities will be offered on an ongoing basis.
These may be mandatory or optional, but each offers the chance to
expand your knowledge and skills relevant to your work as a Peer
Educator.
Our Workshop Menu:
- Up in Smoke: Whether it’s tobacco, Marijuana, or a night out at
a Hookah bar we are up to snuff on the stuff we puff!
- Don’t Get a Flat Tire!: It’s easy with a little help from
your friends! Use this interactive wheel to find out how to
make positive changes in your life.
- Use as Directed: Ever wonder what’s in all of that
Tylenol you’ve been taking? Is it okay to double a dose? What does
abuse of prescription and OTC drugs look like? Isn’t that what a
doctor would do if you went anyway? Come and find out in this
multi-media workshop!
- Eating and Running: Do I really have to stop eating
before 7pm? What is a Trans-fat anyway? How much exercise is
too much?Can I still eat junk food and be healthy? How can I love
my body when the media tells me there’s something wrong with it? We
have the answers!
- Alcohol Jeopardy: How much do you know about what alcohol
and your body? Would Alex Trebek be impressed? He will be
after you attend this test of your alcohol knowledge!!!
- Relate and Reenact: Is your relationship healthy? Is your
friend’s? What actually happens at parties? How can YOU make
a difference?
To book a SWELL
Peer Education Workshop:
Send an e-mail at swell@stjohns.edu with the name
of the workshop as a subject line.
Apply to become a Peer Educator!
Contact the SWELL Peer Educators
swell@stjohns.edu
718-990-7537