The Longest Student Health Center is looking for a few good men and women to join the PEER Educators group.
PEER conducts programs on topics such as stress management, breast cancer awareness, skin care and healthy eating on a student budget, in addition to other free health and wellness programs. The programs are free and open to all student groups and residence halls.
Health education graduate assistant Tracy Gilmer said, “I think that the main purpose of PEER is to allow students to get involved on campus by helping their peers with health issues.
“It allows students to hear information from their own age group,” she continued. “Sometimes people listen when information is coming from someone similar to them because they can relate with what they may be going through better than someone older than them. It allows individuals to make a positive impact on another student’s life.”
Full-time MSU students with at least a 2.5 GPA are encouraged to apply. PEER accepts all majors and trains new members to design, publicize and conduct programs.
Gilmer, who is in charge of coordinating the application process, further outlined what kind of applicants she is looking for to join the PEER Educators. “We are looking for outgoing individuals who have a strong desire to educate their peers about health issues.
“These individuals should be interested in health,” Gilmer continued. “The people that should apply for PEER must be willing to devote three to five hours per week to work on projects, they must not mind giving presentations, and also want to help others. PEER is open to any major!”
During the application process, Jennifer Fuller, the health educator, and Allison Dye, the nutrition graduate assistant, will assist Gilmer in interviewing applicants and concluding the selection process.
In order for a student to join, he or she must complete an application and return it to the Student Health Center by the deadline April 21. The applicants’ GPAs, interests and other activities are then reviewed to make sure they meet the requirements and are able to devote enough time to PEER Each applicant then meets with Gilmer for a 15-minute interview. After the interviews, the final candidates are selected.
Gilmer outlined the responsibilities and advantages a selected educator should expect: “Selected PEERs should expect to learn about health issues their age group are facing. They should expect to come up with ideas to get the message out to other students about certain health issues. They should expect to be devoted to this organization and with campus-wide activities that we participate in.
“PEER allows members to meet new people, make friends, learn valuable health information, learn better communication/presentation skills and it looks good on their rZsumZ,” she continued. “Also PEER is fun!”
For students interested in joining PEER Educators, applications are available at the Student Health Center, the Union Help desk and online at www.health.msstate.edu. Applications are due at the Longest Student Health Center by 5 p.m. on April 21.
For more information, contact Gilmer at 325-7547 in the Student Health Center.