3 minutes-minute read

Peer coaches can help make a difference

(Located in the Academic Success Center in the Library Classroom Building) Ohio State Marion peer coaches Makayla Yake and Bryce Moodispaugh share their thoughts on Ohio State Marion's peer coaching program. The program provides student guidance from an experienced student perspective to navigate the many services available through the campus and the university.
By Wayne Rowe
September 20, 2023

QUESTION - What is your name, major, what year you’re in school, and your hometown?

ANSWER Mak:  My name is Makayla Yake but I go by Mak. I grew up here in Marion, Ohio. I am a psychology major and a neuroscience minor, and this is my fourth year.

ANSWER Bryce:  My name is Bryce Moodispaugh.  I am majoring in biochemistry and I’m minoring in education.  I’m from Cardington, Ohio and I am a sophomore this year.

QUESTION - What is the goal of the peer coaching program?

ANSWER Bryce:  The goal for the peer coaching program is to serve as a conduit between university services and students. Additionally, the program helps foster student to student interaction with the goal of peer coaches serving as a referral source for other students to campus services like tutoring, health and wellness, and more.  If they need tutored we can send them to the tutor.  If they have questions about their professors we’re able to give them tips and tricks on how to talk to their professors effectively.

QUESTION - When it says, "peer coaching" are you directly tutoring students?

ANSWER Mak: We’re not necessarily tutoring them on subjects. What we are able to provide is different ways to effectively study and work with them to figure out what is most effective for them.  The same thing for taking notes.  Then if they want tutoring on a specific subject, we guide them to where they need to go.

QUESTION - How do students get in touch with a peer coach?

ANSWER Mak:  All of the stuff is a work in progress.  For now, the plan is that we are going to have our hours posted on a sign as you enter the Academic Success Center on the 2nd floor of the Library Learning Center.  This is where peer coaches will be located if students would like to meet with them.

QUESTION - What do you think are the benefits to seeking assistance from peer coaching?

ANSWER Mak:  We provide resources on how to be a college student because we’re students that have more experience.  I feel like it’s a different experience talking to someone who has been there or who has been in your shoes.  Our hope is that it makes students feel a little bit more comfortable that they get where you’re coming from.  We are the people who have been in their shoes most recently, so that is a way that we can connect with them and make them feel validated that what they are experiencing isn’t unusual. We can also guide them to ways that they can help themselves. When we were in their shoes, we didn’t have the same resources so maybe it took us longer to figure out how to take notes and study.  I know it took me a long time and I don’t think I had a solid schedule on how to study and take notes until last year in my junior year. If we can do something to make it so they won’t have to struggle as much, that is ideal.

ANSWER Bryce:  Although we’re located in the Academic Success Center, we’re also working on trying to connect with other campus help centers like the Counseling and Wellness Center, so if people come up here and they have emotional distress we can send them over there.  And we’re working with others like the library staff.  One of the problems that we were trying resolve is that when students come to the Academic Success Center and tutors aren’t available, we can provide the tutors schedule. That way when students come here it’s not a lost trip.  They’re  getting information whether the tutor is here or not.

QUESTION - What would you say to a student considering applying to become a peer coach?

ANSWER Mak:  What you really need to be a peer coach is experience with being a college student (at Ohio State Marion).  That’s really all you need, and of course the ability to communicate your different strategies on how you handle certain aspects of college life. Otherwise, I think it can be a growing experience for both the peer coaches and the students.  Even though we’re in the position where we have some more experience and that communication can be really helpful, we also don’t know everything.  Hopefully it can also be a growing experience for the peer coaches and peers to grow both of their skills.

ANSWER Bryce:  The best thing about this position is it’s very much moldable.  We’re just starting out so there are problems we’re trying to address now and trying to find the best way to communicate those but there are also going to be problems that we see throughout the next couple months that we have to adapt to as well. That’s the great thing about this position.  Yes we have our plans now but those plans are definitely going to change as we see students needs change throughout the year closer to exam time and closer to scheduling for the spring semester.  There is a variety of things we’re going to be working on.

QUESTION - It sounds like it’s kind of a position that’s changing and forming with you guys. You have the chance to really be impactful on this especially if it works well. Is there anything that you left out that is important to impart?

ANSWER Mak:  Considering how broad and how much possibility this position has maybe to encourage students who feel like there are certain needs that aren’t being met to communicate with us in some way. Our goal is to not just relate to the Academic Success Center but also with all the different areas to communicate that and get something together. Of course, if anybody is interested in peer coaching and would qualify for that has some ideas, I know Chris Trapp and Michelle McKinniss always said they’re really open to the possibilities that this position can bring to both workers and people who want peer coaching.