<p>I posted this on the HS board, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask the parents, too. </p>
<p>My son is thinking about applying to be a peer facilitator. He's a junior now, so this responsibility would come in 12th grade. He aspires to be a psychologist, so I think it's a perfect EC for him. </p>
<p>Can anyone give me some info on what it's like? Time commitment? Value to apps? Potential pitfalls? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>DB- my D also interested in psych did something like this last year. It was part of the ADL “World of Difference” program. The peer facilitators were trained for a weekend and then ongoing training before the sessions they facilitated. They had a couple facilitators go into each group and lead the interactive themed discussions with the group.</p>
<p>I think she benefited from it. Most other things she does are with younger kids, there is a teaching program with MS aged kids and Girl Scout program aide/camp with elementary kids. This was the first opportunity to work with her own peers.</p>
<p>The reason she dropped it is because they pulled them out of their own classes to run these groups. As her schedule became more full and more advanced classes, she didn’t want to spare the time missed for this activity. I think every different program would have different time commitments. This was also more contained since it is through the school than something like a teen hotline. Is that what he is considering? </p>
<p>HPH and good luck to your S.</p>
<p>I think it varies so much from high school to high school that information from other schools might not be very helpful. Even year-to-year at the same high school, the time commitment (just for one example) varies a lot depending on how many peer counselors there are.</p>
<p>Can you talk to the faculty coordinator at your son’s school? Or, even better, parents of kids who’ve already held this position at your school?</p>
<p>FWIW it was not an especially time-consuming activity at D’s school, but this was because there were just tons of kids in the program. Potential pitfalls: The biggest ones have to do with quality of training and support the kids get. (Another reason why it would be nice if you can learn more about the faculty advisor.) </p>
<p>Value to apps? I guess if it serves to demonstrate your son’s interest in his future career/underline a passion he wants to talk about in his essays, it could be good. But honestly, somewhat like NHS, this varies so widely from school to school that I don’t know if college admissions people would put a whole lot of stock in it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. </p>
<p>This is not for a community group or a hotline. It’s within the school. I don’t think Son would mind being pulled out of a class. </p>
<p>I will ask Son to get more info from the faculty coordinator. If he comes up empty, I’ll make a call.</p>
<p>DOH! Well, all I had to do is look in the course catalog. Here’s what I found. </p>
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<p>To anyone - Does that sound typical? More or less “serious” than what you’ve seen? Thanks again.</p>
<p>DB, what do they actually “do” during the program? It sounds like a scheduled class? Do they walk around the school looking to “recognize and intervene in problems” ?</p>
<p>This is different than what my D did, where they were in small groups and lead and facilitated the workshops on things like social issues at the school (inclusiveness, anti-bullying, etc) They do tout our program as giving leadership skills, and of course for “looking good on a college app.” D does many other leadership things but thought it would be a good psych tie-in. They did need to apply and attend a weekend of training plus the ongoing training. He might even get some insight from the training.</p>
<p>I think it would be a good thing for your S to do if it isn’t taking the place of a core class which he wants/needs. It does sound a little fluffy to me but he would be taking it for appropriate reasons, IMHO</p>
<p>Excellent questions, jackief. Stuff he’ll have to find out. The general impression I get is that it’s conflict resolution on an as-needed basis. </p>
<p>If Son doesn’t find out first, we’ll ask his advisor on Monday. We already have a meeting set-up for entering 09-10 schedules in the computer. </p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>doug: this may be so that seniors act as peer advisors for incoming freshman…that’s how it works at my D’s school; apparently a big honor here if you are chosen.</p>
<p>Our local high school uses peer facilitators. They actually facilitate face to face meetings between students who have problems with each other. Suzie and Sally are mad at each other because Suzie stole Sally’s boyfriend. They are called to a meeting room and the PF is supposed to get them to work things out. The students themselves can request the meeting, or others who know them can ask the PF’s to call the students down. I’m not a fan, but that’s just me. I don’t think it’s something kids should miss their own classes to do, and I don’t think it’s really a kid’s place to moderate cat fights. Maybe your school’s program is different, though.</p>