A Slippery Rock University student is making a lasting impact on the lives of her peers by doing what she loves most — helping others. Haley Barner, a senior chemistry major from Sharpsville (Hickory HS), spent the fall semester serving as a mentor in FYRST seminar, SRU’s one-credit course designed to help first-year students bridge the transition between high school and college.
Barner was inspired to pursue a position as a FYRST mentor by the experiences that she had in her own FYRST seminar. Barner said that she thought so highly of her own FYRST peer mentor that she decided that she’d like to pay it forward by offering the same support to younger students. This led Barner to serve in the classroom under Ashley Loe, associate professor of chemistry, who was the very professor who ran the FYRST seminar that started it all for Barner.
The FYRST seminar is a unique, mandatory course at SRU where students earn credit for learning important skills that help them transition to college life. Topics include time management, active learning strategies and study skills, test preparation, academic advising, majors and careers, diversity and relationship issues, exploration of campus amenities and resources, and how to make healthy choices.
“I think FYRST is important because it’s a place to learn things that you’ll use all throughout college,” Barner said. “It’s all incredibly useful and I felt like I could do for other people what my peer mentor did for me.”
Barner emphasized the importance of communication skills and approachability as a peer mentor. When peer mentors practice good communication skills and are intentionally approachable, they model the traits that first-year students need to get comfortable talking to upperclassmen, faculty, and staff and asking them for help when needed.
“When you’re a first year, you’re doubtful, you’re scared and you don’t know who to talk to,” Barner said. “I wanted to help students get comfortable reaching out and talking.”
Daily tasks as a FYRST mentor vary, but the focus is always on increasing connection between the new class of students and their campus community. This includes activities to get students talking to one another as well as guest speakers from campus offices and activities to get students involved around campus. This is accomplished in the classroom as well as through campus events like the Involvement Fair and scavenger hunts.
“I think there’s a great sense of community here at SRU,” Barner said. “There’s something here for everyone, whether it’s a major or a club or an organization. There is a faculty member you’ll connect with and, no matter who you are, there’s always something for you. The FYRST seminar helps students find those things.”
FYRST mentors like Barner are instrumental in creating a welcoming, supportive environment where students feel empowered to achieve together and as individuals. Barner is an excellent representative of the spirit of student engagement, collaboration, and pride that makes SRU SRU.
More information about the FYRST Seminar can be found on the New Students webpage.
