So I’m about to begin my second semester of college as a freshman, and I absolutely LOVE my school. I’ve been getting super involved, as I’ve found that I love being busy (I had severe anxiety in HS, to the point where no one thought I’d be able to stay at school, let alone do well). I’m in the honors and leadership programs, and was newly appointed an officer of our Student Activities Board. I have an interview for a retail job at one of my favorite stores as well, and I’m hoping to work mainly Friday-Sunday (no class Friday, woo!!)
Anyway, I ended up stumbling upon the Orientation Leader application, and I’m very interested. The school houses you for a month and you lead an orientation group every weekend of June. This sounded pretty ideal to me, as my college is in a beach town so it’s definitely somewhere I wouldn’t mind spending part of my summer. The school pays you around $1,000 for the month, and it would give me an opportunity to work more of my retail job (if I get it) during the week.
I was just planning on doing that, but then I received an email that someone (no idea who) recommended me to be a Peer Mentor for next year. At my school, Peer Mentors co-facilitate a 50 minute transition class once a week with a professor, as well as lead groups of around 20 students for the first 3 days before classes start (so convocation, community service, and a few other events). I had considered doing this but didn’t take it seriously until I got that email.
I would be an orientation leader in June, and then a Peer Mentor late August-the end of fall semester next year. I know a few upperclassmen (mostly juniors and seniors) who are both mentors and OLs. I spoke to my peer mentor from last semesters as well as my OL from last summer and they both encouraged me to do these things.
So, I’m feeling a bit anxious. I WANT to do all of these things, but for some reason I’m partly anxious that I’ll crack under all of the responsibility and revert to my anxious self, which is someone who I don’t want to be. I think I can do it, but I’m pretty sure my main worry is having something happen where I can’t and letting a bunch of people down. It’s not stressing me out enough to deter me from applying, but this is a little worry in the back of my mind.
So, should I do all of these things? Do they all seem doable for a freshman? Any advice would be much appreciated so I can quiet my mind a little bit 